Faculty at Mississippi State University now have a new outlet for their expertise, with the university becoming a partner with The Conversation, a nonprofit media outlet.
Based in Boston, The Conversation showcases articles written by academics for the general public on areas of interest. The Conversation also shares its articles with the Associated Press, and several other media outlets. Articles from the Conversation are produced under a creative commons license, and can be published for free by any organization. The partnership with The Conversation is being funded by the MSU Office of the Provost, MSU Office of Research and Economic Development and MSU Office of Public Affairs. Under the agreement, MSU will join the Conversation’s list of partner institutions.
On Monday, Erick Zack, The Conversation’s university relations director, spoke to a group of MSU faculty about writing for The Conversation, and answered questions among the faculty. Zack said MSU was important to The Conversation as both a land-grant university and a university located in the Deep South.
“We’re a nonprofit with the mission of unlocking the expertise and research of academia to inform and educate the general public,” Zack said.
Zack also spoke to The Conversation’s mission of educating the public tying into the mission of land-grant universities under the Morrill Act.
“We work with them more closely than we work with other institutions to get their research, their academics to write articles to get that out to the general public,” Zack said.
The Conversation began talking to MSU about joining in November 2017.
“It’s always been official when there are new avenues for experts to share their ideas in an easily accessible way, and The Conversation can make that easier, I think,” said assistant professor of agricultural economics Andrew Stevens. “It’s a win-win.”
Stevens also offered his thoughts on The Conversation’s intersection of academia and journalism. He said all academics share their ideas regularly, and working with The Conversation’s editors would help information and ideas make sense to a new audience.
“I think there are benefits to the active collaboration,” Stevens said.
Stevens said he had not encountered The Conversation prior to MSU joining.
“I’m excited to see a nonprofit in this space,” Stevens said.
More than 50 institutions across the country are partners with The Conversation. The site was founded approximately three years ago.