September 26, 2007 Talking Points

From the Office of University Communications

Our first lunch meeting of the fall semester will be: noon Wednesday, Oct. 10, in the Big 12 Room of the Kansas Union. On tap for the program is Vice Provost for Information Services Denise Stephens, who will talk about two important topics: Emergency Communications — our layered notification system of text message, e-mail, Web, voice mail and building PA alerts — and the Information Management Initiative the provost announced earlier this month. Last week’s public episode of the unauthorized release of personal data should be a cautionary tale for us all. In addition to other announcements, we’ll introduce several new communicators.

You will receive a lunch RSVP by email soon. Hold the date.

Marketing to Undergraduates. Admissions and Scholarships, Student Success, University Relations and University Communications have combined forces on a mixed media marketing initiative aimed at prospective undergrads. The timing will capitalize on events in the recruitment season. For example: This coming Sunday, look online for KU banner ads in the New York Times education section. The ads coincide with the NY Times Sunday Magazine inaugural college guide special issue, with lots of features online. The KU banner ads will run Sept. 30 – Oct. 6 and then be “geo-targeted” Oct. 7-14 to users with IP addresses identified with five key feeder cities (Dallas, St. Louis, New York, Denver, and Chicago). The ads will link to a specially constructed KU Web site, which will promote the new Tuition Compact and information, photos and video about KU. User hits will be monitored. Other components of the initiative include “sticky notes” on the KC Star Wyandotte and Johnson County editions the day of the largest college fair between St. Louis and Denver; radio mentions of the Tuition Compact; and KU TV spot placements on cable TV.

Photo Web library review. University Relations photography coordinator Doug Koch is asking all communicators to review photo Web library images representing your school, department, or unit by Oct. 15, if possible. Go to KU Photo Library and see: "Images by Category," then to your school; or go to "Images by Department," then to your department.

Please consider whether any photos for your unit should be removed and especially if

• the subject of the photo is deceased or retired.
• the activity depicts out-dated equipment or contradicts lab safety protocols.
• you can identify alternate subjects that better represent your discipline.
• the subject has now decided to opt out.
• if there are no photos representing your discipline and you have a recommendation, please let Doug know.

Email your comments to kuphotos@ku.edu, and please mention “photo Web library survey.”

Coming your way soon

• A new and improved University Directory should be delivered to departments the first week of October. For the 2007-08 directory, University Relations reorganized the front section and the white office pages, informed by results of an online survey of campus users last winter. UR will survey the KU Medical Center this coming year and focus on improving the 2008-09 directory for users there. Suggestions for improvements, additions, etc., should be sent to Evie Rapport at erapport@ku.edu
• A revised and updated KU Visual Identity Standards is in production, with target distribution of desk-copy manuals to communicators and departments in October.
  FYI: Earlier this year we rolled out KU business cards for KU students, administered through the University Career Center, to help students network for jobs and internships. For more information, see KU offering business cards to students.
• Revised Media Guidelines will be posted on the Communicators Web site in October. They lay out policies on distributing press releases, what to do when media request to visit a class, when to call in a university spokesperson, and whom to notify when you want to invite state or federal VIPs to campus. They contain a new policy on press releases about scholarships: Any news release regarding awarding of money to students, such as fellowships or scholarships, must be cleared through KU Endowment before University Relations can distribute to external media outlets.

Government Relations e-newsletter. Government Relations’ Kathy Damron, who oversees the university’s state relations effort, has partnered with University Communications and University Relations to launch Jayhawk Roundup, a monthly e-newsletter for state policymakers. The content emphasizes good news showing how KU works for the state, providing services, addressing special needs and populations and stimulating the economy. If you have suggestions for content or good photos showing your department doing good work out in the state, please e-mail Jack Martin at jackm@ku.edu.

We plan to have Kathy and Keith Yehle, who directs KU’s federal relations, talk to Communicators at a meeting later this year.

Now on the KU Communicators Web site.

• A clickable gallery of Kansas newspaper articles and editorials since June. The clips catalog news stories that have featured or mentioned KU, with the exception of articles about athletics, articles from our local Lawrence Journal-World newspaper, obituaries and weddings. The files are posted in PDF files as they become available from a clipping service. Each file includes clips published approximately two weeks previous to the posting date.
• PowerPoint on the “Do Something” campaign: a new structure for the collection of pride points, which Todd Cohen presented at our July meeting.

COMINGS & GOINGS

Welcome to these new communicators:

• Jack Martin, formerly director of strategic communications for Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, is deputy director of University Communications. Jack oversaw the governor's major addresses and coordinated communications in the top levels of state government. Before his stint in Topeka, Jack worked for a PR firm in Nashville and in a communications capacity for several political offices in Kansas and Virginia. He looks forward to receiving his master’s in public administration this May.
• Jill Jess is the associate director for news and media relations at University Relations. Jess, a KU graduate with 18 years of experience working in media, has worked for the Sacramento Bee, the Kansas City Business Journal, the St. Petersburg Times and the Emporia Gazette. Jill replaces Jackie Hosey, who had stepped in to serve as associate director on an acting basis; Jackie is returning to her freelance business, GrammarCounts.com.
• Ian Cahir is new to KU Communicators but has been the graphic designer/Web designer/production manager at the Lied Center since December. Ian is also married to Jill Jess.
• Jeff Morrow joins Toni Dixon in communications for the School of Business. Jeff’s title is communications and marketing coordinator. He previously did marketing for the MBA program.
• Drew Rosdahl, information specialist, is an assistant to Karen Henry at the Life Span Institute. Drew also is the Webmaster for a Life Span center — the Kansas Institute for Positive Behavior Support.
• Audra Kenton begins as a graphic designer for University Relations on Oct. 1. A Dodge City native and KU grad, she previously worked at Falleys/Food4Less in Topeka and the Tampa Tribune.