Communicating epidemiology: One experience from research on alcohol and pregnancy

This paper provides a reflection on one researcher's experience of communicating findings from a recent study of trends in maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy in Australia from 2007-11. Through a planned journal media release, both traditional and social media methods were used to disseminate the study results and open a dialogue with the public worldwide. It is now more imperative than ever that the researcher gain media communication skills and harness social media opportunities to communicate epidemiological research findings and truly engage the public.