The daily business of science journalism includes getting independent comments on new studies, and (in my opinion) providing those comments is one of the most important ways in which scientists interact with the media.

But from talking to scientists on Twitter, I know that there’s a lot of nervousness about giving comments to journalists. And when I send papers out to people for comments, I often get replies that say, “Sure, but what do you want me to say?”

A straw poll, conducted this morning on Twitter, suggested that people would value a guide on doing this. So, here’s what I am looking for. (To clarify, this isn’t me ...