Stempra newsletter
INTERVIEW: Laure Thomas, chief press officer at the Department for Business
Laure Thomas is Chief Press Officer at the Department for Business, and worked for Paul Drayson for a year before the government changed and David Willetts became Minister for Universities and Science. As the new Government finds its feet, Laure tells Laura Nelson about life in the Minister’s press office and what it was like promoting science for Paul – an upbeat, enthusiastic athlete with a passion for innovation.
Laura Nelson (LN) Before you worked in government, you were the chief press officer at the Medical Research Council. How is this job different?
Laure Thomas (LT) The main difference is the breadth. This job is much more focused on policy. It’s not just medical science, but stretches to issues such as the low carbon industrial strategy. Innovation is a big part of the remit, as well as public engagement in science. There is very little actual science; I talk less about what scientists actually do.
LN Can you describe a typical day?
LT Normal hours out of recess are 8:30 to 6:30. And days still always start with the Today Programme. Then we get in to work and do newspaper cuts (although Paul always had reservations about how many trees we used!). We collect cuts about science, innovation and venture capital, and have a cuts meeting to discuss them. The press office team will produce a news brief for the Minister.
The shape of day depends is chiefly governed by the Minister’s diary and what’s in the news. I’ll sometimes attend visits with him. I also get to sit in on some ministerial meetings where it’s deemed there will be a press angle. I also aim to meet regularly with officials in research base to make sure I stay on top of what’s coming up. I have two desks, one with the HE, Science & Innovation desk and one in the press office, so days can really feel quite different.
LN How do you promote science?
LT Most work is proactive, and most announcements are about innovation, benchmarking science or, for example, a UK scientist winning a Nobel Prize, as the research councils take care of research findings. The media is the first avenue for promoting science. We also draft quotes for the Prime Minister’s office and publicise science in other ways.
Paul liked doing media work and needed no persuading. He had serious diary issues and times pressures – but rarely turned anything down.
LN What’s the sign-off process like?
LT Simple. There’s minimal bureaucracy. The first draft goes to the Minister. Then it gets signed off by my head of news. On some high profile issues things will also go to Secretary of State’s office, but they are very easy to work with – it’s just a case of keeping them in the loop.
LN What are the challenges of the job?
LT The main challenge is conveying that science is crucial. We need to convince people that we need science and it must be at the top of the agenda. Another challenge is to stay on top of everything!
LN What are the Minister’s biggest challenges?
LT The Minister aims to raise the profile of science and to promote the commercialisation of science – the link between basic science and innovation. He also tries to protect the ringfenced money for science. Paul was adamant about that!
LN What’s the impact of new media?
LT I think new media is very positive – but wonder how it will further evolve. There is a place for direct access to information, but fundamentally I don’t believe anyone can be a journalist. There is still a value traditional journalists add to the communication of science which is near impossible to replicate elsewhere. I don’t believe that science is ‘so objective’ that it is somehow different from other areas. At the end of the day there is and will go on being a role for independent, inquisitive, knowledgeable writers – it’s their use of social media that’s becoming interesting too. Paul loved Twitter. Someone suggested it to him a year ago and we couldn’t get him off it. He ran along Victoria Street, tweeting between meetings.
LN What was Paul like to work with?
LT Paul was very positive and loved science. He was enthusiastic and genuine and had lots of energy (He’s also an athlete; he trains and is very fit). He literally leaped from one meeting to the next.
LN What is the best thing about the job?
LT Feeling like you’re at the heart of the action on science policy and have a role to play, no matter how small.
LN What’s the worst thing?
LT I guess the feeling of needing to be checking emails, news sites, papers etc constantly… I manage to leave it behind from time to time, but let’s just say it doesn’t tend to make for a great work-life balance.
LN What makes a good press officer?
LT A press officer must have a sense of news, be good at telling a story and show enthusiasm about the subject. Diligence and honesty are very important qualities, as it the ability to be personable so that people trust you with information.
LN Guardian journalist Ian Sample, in a previous issue of Stempra news, complained that
press officers have a mission to promote their institutions and they can
act as barriers to information. Do you agree with that?
LT This is not necessarily the case. Press officers are there more to promote science in itself. We don’t restrict access! Ian fails to acknowledge that press officers encourage openness.
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