This workshop aims to encourage early career researchers to get involved in public debates about science, particularly when they are controversial. Presenters will discuss the participants’ concerns about speaking out in public and confront misconceptions about how the media works. Drawing on experience, the panel will discuss what happens when science reporting goes wrong, statistics are manipulated, or media discussions become polarized. The panel will explain how journalists approach stories and balance the need for news and entertainment with reporting science, and provide practical tips.