In order to promote more informed science in the media, the centre's main function is as a service to journalists, providing background briefings on current scientific issues and facilitating interviews with scientists.
[6] The SMC's stated aim is to "facilitate more scientists to engage with the media, in the hope that the public will have improved access to accurate, evidence-based scientific information about the stories of the day".
The setting up of the Science Media Centre was assisted by Susan Greenfield, the director of the Royal Institution of Great Britain.
[citation needed] While the centre was initially based in a specially refurbished wing of the Royal Institution, full independence was claimed from all funders and supporters.
The Science Media Centre informed journalists of declarations of interests provided by the scientists, but this was not mentioned in news coverage.