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				Faculty Assistance: Publicity
				How to get publicity for your work There are many opportunities to draw favorable public attention to your research or projects. The Office of Communications and Marketing is an effective liaison between faculty and news agencies. Below are some ways you can help us seek media coverage. Know what's newsworthy. Determine what you want to accomplish with publicity. Make sure you're on our "experts list." Respond ASAP to any phone calls or e-mails from PRNS that are prompted by a ProfNet inquiry. Don't forget about "La Louisiane" and "Accents." Know what's newsworthy. In general, news is timely information that's of interest to a large number of people. With an information explosion, competition for space or air time is often intense. So, news stories have a better chance of making it into print or onto the air if they are unique, inspirational or have a direct impact on people's lives. Media, in general, are very cooperative and give UL Lafayette a great deal of coverage. However, we rely on their judgment and circumstances: we cannot control what is published or broadcast. If you're not sure whether your information is newsworthy, contact the Office of Communications and Marketing. Call (337) 482-6397 or send e-mail to prns@louisiana.edu Determine what you want to accomplish with publicity. That will determine, in large part, how your information will be disseminated. Do you want to encourage people to attend an event? If you would like recognition for a professional accomplishment that's within the usual scope of your responsibilities, such as attending a conference, the best placement may be trade or technical journals distributed among your peers. A reminder: most media are interested in stories that affect a large number of people. We encourage you to contact our office; we will advise you about your options. If you'd like publicity before an event, please give us a call as soon as you can. Interviews on live television or radio programs, for instance, are scheduled weeks, and sometimes months, in advance. Remember that timeliness is a key to news coverage. The odds of successful publicity increase dramatically when coverage can be planned and coordinated weeks in advance. Tailor your news for each medium. For instance, be prepared to provide visuals for broadcast and details for print. Make sure you're on our "experts list." The Office of Communications and Marketing has prepared a list of faculty members who reporters can call when they would like to interview someone with a high degree of knowledge or skill in a particular field. Serving as an expert for media is an excellent way to gain exposure and create positive impressions. If you're willing to be interviewed by print and broadcast reporters, please provide information about yourself and your areas of specialty by submitting the signup form for experts. Your name and the information you submit will be added to online and printed versions of UL Lafayette's Experts List. If you have any questions, please call us at (337) 482-6397 or send e-mail to prns@louisiana.edu. Respond ASAP to any phone calls or e-mails from PRNS that are prompted by a ProfNet inquiry Profnet is a popular on-line service available to universities, and is the best opportunity to obtain regular national media exposure. It lets universities know when journalists need to talk with an expert while they are writing articles for print or broadcast. PRNS monitors Profnet transmissions throughout the day and tries to match our faculty with Profnet inquiries. Putting reporters in touch with experts at UL Lafayette is one way the university can get national exposure. If you are contacted about a Profnet inquiry, please respond as quickly as possible, since many of the reporters are on deadline. It may seem inconvenient at the time, but the results of such publicity - for faculty and the university - are invaluable. When responding to a Profnet inquiry, be ready to provide a brief summary of your qualifications and background. And please ask when the story will be printed or broadcast. We'll help you watch for it. Don't forget about "La Louisiane" and "Alumni Accents." "La Louisiane" is the magazine of UL Lafayette. With a circulation of about 70,000, it's a powerful tool for conveying good news about the university, its faculty and students. It also gives in-depth coverage to a variety of topics. "Alumni Accents" is a publication of the UL Lafayette Alumni Association, produced by the Office of Communications and Marketing. It's sent to association members to keep them informed about their alma mater.

Document last revised Wednesday, August 5, 2009 12:57 PM

© Copyright 2003 by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Communications and Marketing · Martin Hall Room 319
Post Office Box 41009, Lafayette LA 70504-1009, USA
337/482-6397 · 337/482-5908 (fax) · prns@louisiana.edu