We also respond to media requests for information, story ideas, and faculty experts. We need faculty members to keep us informed of their programs, achievements, research efforts, and activities. The sooner we know, the more effectively we can plan and implement a promotional strategy. Inform the public about upcoming events of community interest by submitting information to the media. To meet the calendar deadlines of most papers, we need to mail an announcement four to six weeks in advance of the event.
Newspapers print calendar information about a week before the event is scheduled.
For magazines, the deadline is approximately two months in advance. Please call us early in the planning stages of your event. Notify the media of events they may want to cover. The media are interested in hard news, so they will be more apt to cover an academic conference, for example, if it includes a policy announcement by a government agency, the presentation of research that is of public interest, or an appearance by someone they normally do not have access to. Develop feature stories highlighting George Mason programs and people, and contact appropriate media.