Science Media Centre of New Zealand

What Science Media Centre of New Zealand does

The Science Media Centre of New Zealand is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 2008 and headquartered at 11 Turnbull Street, Thorndon, Wellington. It is publicly funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) through the "A Nation of Curious Minds" initiative. Its function is to act as a two-sided intermediary between New Zealand's scientific research community and its news media: journalists receive fast access to credible expert scientists, embargoed research, and live media briefings on breaking science stories, while scientists receive media communication training, public-profile support, and protection guidance against online harassment.

The organization's core assets are Scimex — an online portal at scimex.org where registered journalists access embargoed research and expert alerts — and Science Media SAVVY, a multi-format media training program (full-length workshops, SAVVY Express, monthly webinars, tailored institutional sessions, and a dedicated Māori researchers track). Supporting products include the SMC Deadline weekly newsletter, real-time Expert Reactions on breaking science news, an events calendar, the "Desk Guide for Scientists: Working with Media" PDF, and the annual Science Journalism Awards. The technology stack is intentionally lightweight (WordPress-based website plus the Scimex portal), with no disclosed proprietary technology, patents, or AI/ML systems.

Commercially, SMC operates a free-to-end-user model: all services are provided without charge to journalists and scientists, and there are no disclosed paid tiers. Revenue is single-threaded via MBIE grant funding, with governance from an Advisory Group that includes university and media representatives. The team is small (Director Dacia Herbulock plus four Media Advisors), and the Director has held the role since launch. Distribution is entirely digital plus occasional in-person workshops and live press briefings, and the organization participates in a global network of sister Science Media Centres (UK, Australia, USA, Germany, Japan, and the newly established Irish SMC).

Name

Science Media Centre of New Zealand

Legal name

Science Media Centre (New Zealand)

Website

https://sciencemediacentre.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Science Media Centre of New Zealand is a publicly funded non-profit intermediary that connects NZ journalists with expert scientists through the Scimex embargoed-research portal, SAVVY media training, and real-time expert reactions on breaking science news.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Communication Services

NAICS

Media Representatives (54184), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical & Scientific Expert Networks (BPAHALAH)

Keywords

• Science communication services
• Media training programs
• Research support services
• Expert commentary services
• Journalist support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Publicly funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment through A Nation of Curious Minds initiative. All services are free to journalists and scientists.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Science Media Centre of New Zealand is a non-profit intermediary that connects journalists with credible scientific experts and supports scientists in engaging with the media. It operates Scimex, an online portal giving registered journalists access to embargoed research, and delivers the Science Media SAVVY media-communication training program for researchers. It also publishes rapid expert reactions to breaking science news and runs the weekly SMC Deadline newsletter. All services are provided free of charge to both journalists and scientists.

Product overview

Science Media Centre of New Zealand operates as a science communication intermediary, not a traditional software product company. Its core offerings include Scimex (an embargoed research portal for journalists) and Science Media SAVVY (a communication skills training program for researchers). These are supported by the SMC Deadline weekly newsletter, Expert Reactions commentary service, an Events Calendar, The Desk Guide for Scientists resource, and the Science Journalism Awards program. The organization functions as a coordination and communication service connecting scientists, journalists, and the public through evidence-based science reporting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scimex Online portal operated by the Science Media Centre that gives registered journalists access to embargoed scientific research, expert alerts, and on-demand expert commentary for science news reporting.
• Science Media SAVVY (SAVVY) Media communication training program for New Zealand scientists and researchers, offering workshops, video sessions, webinars, and online resources to help researchers engage effectively with journalists and the public.
• Expert Reactions Curated expert commentary and analysis service that provides journalists with on-the-record reactions from New Zealand scientists to breaking science news and research developments.
• SMC Deadline Newsletter Weekly email newsletter summarising the latest science media updates, expert reactions, and upcoming science events, available free by subscription.

Quantifiable outcome

• Provides expert reactions to major science news stories in New Zealand
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Global SMC NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network of Science Media Centres (SMCs) including sister organizations in UK, Australia, USA, Germany, Japan, and other countries. Enables sharing of expert commentary, best practices, and international collaboration on science communication.
• Scimex.orgcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline portal for journalists to access embargoed research. The SMC operates and maintains Scimex as the primary platform for connecting media with scientific experts and breaking research.
• Science Communicators AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe SMC Director serves on the Executive Committee of the Science Communicators Association, and SMC has collaborated with the association on events and resources.
• Royal Society Te ApārangiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC aligns its AI disclosure policy for experts with Royal Society Te Apārangi's guidelines for best-practice use of generative AI in research in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Victoria University of WellingtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC Director Dacia Herbulock is an Adjunct Research Fellow with the Science and Society group at Victoria University of Wellington. The SMC also draws on university researchers as experts.
• University of OtagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory Group Chair Dianne Sika-Paotonu is Senior Lecturer at University of Otago in Wellington. SMC draws on university researchers as experts.
• Public Health Communication Centre Advisory BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC Director Dacia Herbulock serves as Deputy Chair of the Public Health Communication Centre Advisory Board, supporting public health communication efforts.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Royal Society Te Apārangi: New Zealand's national academy of sciences, which also engages in science communication and policy advice. SMC NZ aligns its AI disclosure policy with Royal Society Te Apārangi's guidelines. Less specialized in media intermediary services but operates in adjacent science-policy and public engagement space.

Emerging players

• The Conversation: A global academic media nonprofit that publishes articles written by academics and edited by journalists. Operates in a related niche of science-to-public communication, though via a different model (long-form authored articles rather than rapid expert reactions). Has a New Zealand edition.
• SciDev.Net: A nonprofit science communication news site focused on developing-world science issues. Comparable as a science communications intermediary, though oriented toward global development stories rather than a single national media market.

Direct peers

• Science Media Centre (UK): The original Science Media Centre founded in 2002, which served as the model for the NZ SMC. Operates the same core model: an independent intermediary connecting journalists with scientific experts, providing embargoed research access and rapid expert reactions. Direct sister organization in the global SMC network.
• EurekAlert!: Operated by AAAS, EurekAlert! is the leading international embargoed research press release platform connecting journalists with breaking science papers. Directly comparable to SMC NZ's Scimex portal in function, though EurekAlert! serves a global rather than single-country audience.
• Science Media Centre Germany: German member of the global SMC network, operating the same science-media intermediary model. Provides expert reactions, media briefings, and training programs comparable to SMC NZ's offerings.
• Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC): Sister organization in Australia operating the same model of providing expert scientific commentary to journalists. Highly comparable given geographic proximity, similar Anglosphere media landscape, and shared participation in the global SMC network.
• Science Media Centre Japan: Japanese member of the global SMC network, providing rapid expert commentary on science news in Japanese media. Direct sister organization operating the same intermediary model in a different national market.

Others

• Science Communication Association of New Zealand (SciCommNZ): New Zealand professional association for science communicators, on whose Executive Committee SMC NZ Director Dacia Herbulock serves. Adjacent ecosystem participant that supports the broader science communication community in NZ rather than directly competing with SMC NZ.

Regional players

• Public Health Communication Centre (NZ): New Zealand-based organization focused specifically on public health communication, with Dacia Herbulock serving as Deputy Chair of its Advisory Board. Overlaps with SMC NZ's mandate in the public health sub-domain of science communication.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/smcnz
• Facebookfacebook.com/ScienceMediaCentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/science-media-centre-of-new-zealand

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Science Media Centre of New Zealand