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AlphaGalileo FAQs
Welcome to the FAQ's. If you cannot find the answer to your query, please address urgent enquiries to the duty editor at alphagalileo@alphagalileo.org.
Click here to log any problems that may occur when using AlphaGalileo.
- What is AlphaGalileo?
- What are AlphaGalileo's aims?
- Why the name AlphaGalileo?
- Who manages AlphaGalileo?
- Who funds AlphaGalileo?
- How do I contact the AlphaGalileo Project Team?
- Why Internet based?
- What are the categories of users?
- Who can use the site?
- How to register with AlphaGalileo?
- Do you peer review postings?
- How do you ensure the quality of news on the site?
- Why do I need to provide a referee?
- Who could be my referee?
- What is an embargo?
- Who can see embargoed news?
- How do I know my press release has been accepted?
- How long will it take for my news item to be visible on the site?
- How long will my item remain on the site?
- How do I know how many people have looked at my release?
- How can I correct a mistake in my item?
- How do I set my email alerts?
- How do I stop receiving email alerts?
- Why can I not see any journalists in the address book?
- What are the software requirements for accessing the site?
- Will I be bombarded with junk mail if I register?
- My browser can't access the site
- What attachments can I post on AlphaGalileo?
- What other information would you advise me to look at?
1. What is AlphaGalileo?
AlphaGalileo is an Internet-based press centre for European research in science, medicine, technology, the arts and humanities. Our objective is to promote the achievements and significance of European research to the world's media.
Receiving research news from recognised scientific bodies throughout Europe, we provide journalists from all over the world with 24-hour-a-day access to press releases, event details, an experts' database, contributors' address book and background media information.
2. What are AlphaGalileo's aims?
AlphaGalileo's mission is to assist the world's media by providing European research news in science and technology, medicine, the arts, humanities and social sciences, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service operates as a single shop window for the press offices of European research bodies.
AlphaGalileo's objectives are to enhance media coverage of European research with these audiences and aims in mind:
- young people - to encourage their awareness of exciting and significant research being carried out in Europe;
- taxpayers - to help justify the use of funds as effective and beneficial to the people of Europe;
- industry - to encourage worldwide recognition of the opportunities and challenges of new technologies developed across Europe; and
- public - to assist European citizens in engaging in ethical concerns over research.
3. Why the name AlphaGalileo?
It combines two foundations of European scientific culture: the Greek language and one of the first European scientists, the Italian, Galileo Galilei.
4. Who manages AlphaGalileo?
AlphaGalileo is managed by AlphaGalileo Foundation - a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.
In delivering the service, the Foundation is advised by a Steering Group consisting initially of the national partners from the previous European Commission-supported project. It is hoped that more partners will join the Group in the future.
The Steering Group is chaired by Thomas Evensen, Senior Adviser for the Research Council of Norway.
The site is run on a day-to-day basis by a small core team:
Managing Director - Peter Green
Peter has over 30 years of science and government media relations experience. He can be reached at peter.green@alphagalileo.org
Director - Derek Nelson
Derek followed a career with the BBC and a leading independent UK television company, with a period as a broadcast media consultant for the European Space Agency. He has worked as Chief Operating Officer for several new media ventures and specialises in repositioning and business development as well as media operations. From 2002 he has worked with several television and internet companies across Europe. Derek combines his media experience with a degree in computer science. He can be reached at derek.nelson@alphagalileo.org
News Team
Senior News Manager - Albena Dimitrova
Albena holds a Degree in Journalism from the Sofia University. She has a Diplôme d’études approfondie from Bordeaux University. She has 15 years experience of working as a journalist on radio and television, mainly in Bulgaria, but has also worked as a diplomatic correspondent for covering the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO. Working for the Publicis Group in Bulgaria she was PR Manager for the European Commission. From 2002 to 2007 she worked for the BBC in their Bulgarian Service in Sofia and London, and the newsroom of the BBC World Service.albena.dimitrova@alphagalileo.org
News Service Manager - Sonia López
Sonia holds a BA (Hons) Degree in Journalism by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and a Certificate in Cultural Industries by City University, London. She has a strong background in marketing and journalism, having worked as a writer / reporter, editor and press officer for different printed and online media and various organisations, including RENFE, the Spanish national railways, Vodafone or Movilisto. Her experience in the UK has developed mainly within the public and non-for-profit sector, having worked in different roles for Haringey Council, Progressio – an international development agency and I CAN – the children’s communication charity. sonia.lopez@alphagalileo.org
News Service Manager – Laura Rodriguez
Laura has a degree in Sociology from the Complutense University of Madrid and a Master’s Degree in Bilingual Translation from the University of Westminster, London. She has worked extensively as a freelance translator and editor for several major organizations and has participated in the “PNYV” UN volunteer programme. She has worked as a press officer in Spain and has assisted in public relations events at the Instituto Cervantes in London. laura.rodriguez@alphagalileo.org
5. Who funds AlphaGalileo?
The AlphaGalileo service operates on a mix of subscriptions, government grants, commercial sponsorship and advertising.
6. How do I contact the AlphaGalileo Project Team?
We recommend using email in order to contact AlphaGalileo as the team works from offices across England and while travelling.
Suite 4.05 130 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 5UE
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3004 4540
(Emails to this address go to all members of staff and will be answered by the manager on site duty.)
7. Why Internet based?
Being online based, we can guarantee instantaneous round-the-clock access to the most recent information. Journalists can read press releases at any time of the day or night wherever they have access to the internet. Researchers and public relations staff can be sure that their news is immediately available, subject to approval.
8. What are the categories of users?
The public can browse the site but there are also two categories of users who can register with AlphaGalileo: contributors and journalists.
Contributors are research public relations staff or senior researchers from European research organisations. They can post press releases and event information. They cannot see embargoed material unless they have posted it themselves. Contributors can register for email alerts of new material.
Journalists from the worldwide media can see embargoed material and register for email alerts of new material and embargoed news.
Public users, not registered with AlphaGalileo, have only access to material that is out of embargo. They cannot use the experts' service, address book or email facility.
All users can subscribe for RSS feeds.
9. Who can use the site?
Contributors - we welcome all contributors reporting on work carried out by a European body. The research need not necessarily have been undertaken in Europe, but it must clearly relate to European interests.
Journalists - we welcome all types of journalists, scientific and non-scientific writers, freelancers and journalists from the national and local media as well as the trade and technical press.
Public - we welcome everyone who is interested in the achievements of European research but who is neither a contributor nor a journalist.
10. How to register with AlphaGalileo?
If you would like to be a contributor and post content on AlphaGalileo or if you are a journalist and you would like to have access to embargoed news, you should register with AlphaGalileo using our simple online forms. We will also ask you for your references. This is a necessary procedure that allows us to provide the service of the highest quality.
To register as a contributor, please go to http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=regcontri
To register as a journalist, please go to http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=regjourno
11. Do you peer review postings?
No, we don't peer review postings. The responsibility of accuracy of items remains with the contributor. Our posting policy here gives guidance on what we can and cannot accept. We reserve the right to withdraw items or an individual's registration if we believe the site is being abused.
12. How do you ensure the quality of news on the site?
All contributors are vetted before being accepted. Our vetting procedures allow us to make sure that our contributors come from recognised research bodies either working in Europe, or posting research clearly relating to European interests. All postings are reviewed by the duty team member of staff against the criteria specified in our posting policy here.
13. Why do I need to provide a referee?
Referees are needed to ensure that journalists are bona-fide and will respect embargoes. Contributors can be asked for a referee to check that they are authorised to post responsible and accurate material on behalf of their organisation. Referees are therefore an important part of our vetting procedures to ensure the highest standards of quality.
14. Who could be my referee?
For journalists, an editor would be acceptable or evidence of membership of a journalists' organisation.
For contributors, your head of department is most frequently used as a referee. Please note that publication on AlphaGalileo is the same as any other type of publication and material must have been through the publishing organisation's vetting procedure before it is sent to us.
15. What is an embargo?
An embargo prevents publication of material before the date specified, whilst allowing the media to undertake background research and prepare their articles or programmes. Embargoes are intended to help informed debate whilst retaining the intellectual right of prior publication. Embargoes are fundamental to publishing scientific results and journalists found breaching them may have their access to the site removed.
16. Who can see embargoed news?
Only registered journalists and the contributor who posted the item. Other users cannot see embargoed material until the embargo has expired.
17. How do I know my press release has been accepted?
You will receive an email confirming that your release has been posted onto the site and later a second message telling you whether your release has been accepted or rejected. The second email will also tell you how many email alerts have been sent out to users.
18. How long will it take for my news item to be visible on the site?
Under normal circumstances material posted Monday to Friday between 08.00 - 19.00 hrs GMT on weekdays will be accepted within 30 minutes and be immediately available on the site and sent by email to subscribers. At public holidays your material should be checked and approved within three hours.
If you want your news included in the daily alerts for journalists make sure you submit them before 10.00 GMT*. If you want your news included in the weekly alerts for journalists you should post them before Friday 12.00 GMT.
*GMT - Greenwich Mean Time
Example 1: 15:00 on the 1st April 2006 in GMT = 16:00 in London = 17:00 in Berlin
Example 2: 15:00 on the 1st December 2006 in GMT = 15:00 in London = 16:00 in Berlin
19. How long will my item remain on the site?
All material is archived on the site and can be accessed using the search facilities: basic search, advanced search and library search. Our content dates from our launch in 1998. The default view on the home page searches back to the last 14 days but you can change the timescale using the drop-down menu.
20. How do I know how many people have looked at my release?
To see the total number of alerts sent out and the number of times that your release has been accessed, please navigate to 'My AlphaGalileo' and click on 'Release'. We do not provide information on which journalists have looked at your release due to data protection considerations. See our data protection policy for more information.
21. How can I correct a mistake in my item?
Once you have entered an item you are asked to preview it. If you find a mistake, just press your browser's back button and re-enter the correct information. Once the release or the event have been accepted, you can see and edit all your documents by selecting 'Edit release' or 'Edit calendar event' from the left side menu. As long as the documents are under embargo, you can only see them in the 'edit' section of the site.
22. How do I set my email alerts?
Log-in and click on 'Edit languages/alerts'. You can choose what content you receive by keyword, content type, and frequency:
- keyword
e.g. Agriculture, or SCIENCE (all) - content type
e.g. press releases, events, books, library items - frequency
Contributors can choose to receive alerts daily or weekly.
Journalists can choose to receive daily, weekly or immediate alerts. Immediate alerts can be in summary or full text format.
23. How do I stop receiving email alerts?
Log-in and click on 'Edit languages/alerts'. The frequency box at the bottom of the page has an option called 'I do not wish to receive news'. Click on this to stop emails being sent without deleting your keyword preferences.
You can change this at any time by logging in and selecting another option, e.g. 'daily'.
24. Why can I not see any journalists in the address book?
Journalists' address information is not available on the site. This is at the request of journalists. A list of the media organisations that have staff registered with AlphaGalileo can be found here
25. What are the software requirements for accessing the site?
You will need a javascript enabled browser to use the service. Your browser preferences should be set to accept cookies and to check for new pages every time.
Recommended browsers: Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, Microsoft Internet Explorer for Mac, Firefox.
26. Will I be bombarded with junk mail if I register?
No. We do not release your email address to anyone other than other registered users. If we believe a user is abusing the address book their access rights will be withdrawn. We email all registered journalists and contributors with our monthly eNEWS which contains news about the service and science communication and the media.
27. My browser can't access the site
There are several possible causes for this. The most common is that your browser is not supported (see Question 25).
The next most common is that your browser has cached a corrupted page. You need to clear the cache using the preferences or settings commands in the browser and then close and restart your web browser. Your browser preferences should be set to check for new pages every time and to accept cookies.
The AlphaGalileo site relies on cookies to handle the log-on of registered users and to enforce security. The cookie identifies you as a logged on and legitimate user of the service. We do this to safeguard embargoed items.
The AlphaGalileo site uses javascript. You may experience some problems if you do not have a javascript enabled browser.
28. What attachments can I post on AlphaGalileo?
We accept following file upload types: DOC, JPG, JPEG, JPE, GIF, PDF, TIF, TIFF, MPEG, AVI, RM, MOV, BMP and MPG. There is a limit of 4MB on movie files and 1MB on all other files.
Please let us know if the item you would like to attach is protected by a copyright that should be mentioned on the site.
29. What other information would you advise me to look at?
- AlphaGalileo's acceptable use policy which can be found here
- The AlphaGalileo privacy policy which can be found here
- A list of media organisations registered with us which can be found here
- A list of research bodies registered with us which can be found here