Attending medical research conferences is a great way to find unique story ideas, develop sources and meet researchers, fellow journalists and potential editors.
These conferences are packed with panel discussions, breakaway sessions, exhibits, poster sessions and socializing opportunities. Reporters who have been covering medical research conferences for a while have developed strategies for making the most out of these hectic events, including managing their time and workflow.
But medical research conferences can be overwhelming for reporters new to covering them and for freelancers who don’t have a news outlet to pay their way or help them decide which sessions to attend.
We’ve put together a tip sheet with more than a dozen pointers for both staff and independent journalists to help you prepare for covering a medical research conference in advance and to optimize your experience once there. Here are a few highlights from the tip sheet and some advice from seasoned journalists.
