It's vital stammered voices like mine are in the media

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Piers

With around 100 broadcast interviews under his belt, Piers Forster tells us about being the media's go-to climate expert and describes the positives that stammering has given him.

I am a professor of climate science at the University of Leeds with a long career in the field. I have increasingly got involved in climate policy, both internationally and nationally, where I now chair the UK Climate Committee, the independent advisor on climate policy to the UK government. I also noticeably stammer.

When I was applying for my first lectureships in the early 2000s, the issue of my stammering came up when I was asked about having to teach classes of undergraduates. I'm sure it influenced some decisions to hire me, but plenty of places were prepared to take a punt on me and offered me jobs. Lecturing in fact turned out to be really fun and helpful for my confidence. Knowing your material really helps. 

Media work

In my capacity as chair of the UK Climate Committee, I'm often approached to speak to the media. I think my first TV appearance may have been on Sky News, and I remember I was nervous but excited about doing it. Since then I've taken part in lots of TV and radio interviews with the BBC World Service, LBC, Al Jazeera, Channel 4 and ITV, as well as with international stations. 

• Read about 'No Diversity Without Disfluency', our recent campaign for better stammering representation in the media.

A producer normally contacts me saying they either want to talk about my own work or to comment on a climate event or report. I'm usually asked to do live interviews over the phone, such as with the World at One on Radio 4, but I much prefer going to the studio, where I can see the interviewer face to face. This rarely happens these days though.

Accommodating stammering

By in large, the media has been accommodating of my stammer, up to a point, as they are always rushing and have a programme to fill. Sometimes I tell producers I stammer in advance, and sometimes they bring it up if they know about it already or notice it. I've found that they tend to be sympathetic and give me a bit more time if the schedule allows. The BBC and others often let me pre-record to give me more time and let me repeat answers.

It reminds everyone that some people in our community stammer and have as much right to have their voices listened to as anyone.

I've generally been treated very well by interviewers, who have been helpful by not interrupting or talking over me. In around 100 broadcast interviews, there have only been a couple of bad ones that tried to shut me down or hurry me up. There have been one or two car crashes, though, where I can tell they have regretted having me on. And I am sometimes dropped when the producer realises that I stammer. While others have made up excuses, the BBC are straight enough to tell me this, citing time constraints. I'm not sure I always buy it. It's a dent to my ego but I live with it. 

More than just our stammers

I say well done and thank you to the BBC producers and other stations such as Sky, who have invited me back several times, for I think it's vital that stammered voices are featured in the media. Firstly, it reminds everyone that some people in our community stammer and have as much right to have their voices listened to as anyone. I think it also sends the message that there is more to a person than just their stammer. Rather than picking guests based on fluency, having experts and interesting people with something original and important to say will ultimately make for better programmes. 

But I would like to see broadcasters offering training to producers on how to accommodate people who stammer and talk to stammering interviewees about what works best for them. 

I may not get all the spoken media or public talk offers that others of a similar career stage get, but in other areas I may have even benefited from my stammer. Overall, I think stammering has given me a stubbornness to keep going and ignore rejection, something which has proved very useful as a researcher trying to publish! I am sure my stammer has also helped people remember me and generally I have had the privilege of working with very supportive colleagues and line mangers that have trusted me and never doubted that there were parts of the job that I couldn't or shouldn't do. 

The responses I've had from my appearances all been very positive, and I am especially pleased when other stammerers contact me. I hope hearing me will encourage others who stammer to take opportunities to speak to the media. We all have something to say that's worth listening to.

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