Photo by Chris Meyer David Bricker of the Office of Media Relations on the Bloomington campus, assists Susan Myers, a reporter for Bloomington radio station WGCL, during the recent ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Multidisciplinary Science Building.

On any given day this spring, leading IU scientists shared their periodical cicada expertise with the world via radio broadcasts, newspaper articles and television newscasts. If you’ve ever wondered how the media located IU’s scientists, meet David Bricker.

"I don’t make the news, I just try to explain why a certain idea makes better news than anything else a journalist might be working on," said Bricker, a media relations specialist at IU Bloomington’s Office of Media Relations.

Breaking news of Brood X periodical cicadas was an easy sell, and Bricker was instrumental in connecting IU’s cicada researchers--biologist Keith Clay and geographer John Odland--with journalists. The public’s interest in the mysterious cicadas was so high, Bricker found himself working with the National Science Foundation efforts in sponsoring a Virginia-based press conference that included Clay and Odland.

Here in the Hoosier state, Bricker collaborated with his Purdue University counterparts in bringing experts from both universities together to meet with reporters during a press conference in Indianapolis.

"Scientists from both schools came together. It was something the public was interested in. We felt that we have done something to advance scientific literacy in Indiana," said Bricker, who credits his stint at Johns Hopkins Hospital (2000-2002) for his science writing training. "I love bringing to people’s attention great researchers—and great research—they might not otherwise know about."

Other "media hits:"
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'Big payoff' for Kokomo's business program
Kelley’s KIP makes impression on CNN’s Dobbs