Sharing Your Murray State News

The Office of Branding, Marketing and Communication shares Murray State’s great news in the following ways:

• Writing, editing and distributing original or submitted press releases to news media and on Murray State’s various distribution channels, including the blog, Racer Nation Information e-newsletter and social media
• Pitching stories and possible events coverage to local and regional news media
• Helping connect news media with Murray State faculty, staff or students to discuss relevant stories (i.e., a trending local, regional, national or even international story in which the University has faculty or staff members who can serve as subject experts)
• Producing and filming video stories for campus events to be posted on the University’s YouTube page and on social media as well as compiling video footage to be sent to local and regional media outlets (contact Digital Media Services for more information on video)
• Creating and compiling stories, events and announcements for inclusion in the Racer Nation Information weekly e-newsletter
• Reporting and writing stories for the Blue & Gold alumni magazine, the University’s biannual print publication for alumni and friends of the University
• Creating marketing content for various publications, webpages and broadcast platforms upon request

We value stories about opportunities that open doors for students to engage with research, hands-on learning or their field of study on a deeper level. We’re also looking to share stories of success from all units of the University.

• Student success: Did a student land an exciting job or internship? Did they conduct or assist with an interesting or innovative research project? Did they work for, volunteer for or participate in a hands-on learning opportunity? Are they leading an exciting extracurricular or academic project? Did they study abroad or make a difference in the community?
• Alumni spotlights: Do you know an alumnus with an impressive career? A Murray State grad who won a prestigious award or played a role in shaping a community? Do they have a story you think is worth telling — one people would be interested in hearing?
• Faculty achievements: Did a faculty member lead research that impacts or interests the general public? Are they teaching a unique course? Did they win an award or substantial grant for their groundbreaking research? Are they making a significant impact in students’ lives?
• Staff features: Has a staff member influenced people on campus or in the community? Are they leading or creating an exciting new project, organization or opportunity?
• Program stories: Is a department offering a new degree track? Has a program earned a new ranking, award or accreditation? Did students complete a group (or individual) project with innovative or interesting findings for a class assignment?
• Events coverage: Is there an upcoming event with a public figure or about a topic with great public appeal? Does it focus on the community or bettering the campus or region? Will the event bring back several alumni or invite members of the community to campus? Note: Events should first and foremost be submitted to the University Calendar.

Submit your news items or story pitches using our submission form. Upon receiving your submission or pitch, BMC staff will review and follow up accordingly. The form should take five minutes or less to fill out.

While the submission form is our preferred way of receiving stories, you may also email msu.pr@murraystate.edu. Provide any necessary background we might need in the body of your email, such as (1) main idea, (2) contact information and (3) ideal distribution date. If you have a specific photo you would like for us to consider using, please attach that to your email, too, with photo captions and credit. If you regularly work with a member of our staff, please also copy that individual on your initial email.

For press releases that have already been written, we prefer to receive submissions as Word or Google documents. Please use our existing press release template and follow the University's editorial style guidelines.

Sharing news at least two or more weeks in advance is ideal when promoting an upcoming event. Other stories — such as sharing a post-event recap or announcing recent good news — should still be timely (within two weeks before or after). This allows our team to help you in promoting or sharing news of your event, project or accomplishment within a timely fashion.

However, we understand the need to sometimes publish important items on short notice. Let us know if there is a specific date you need your news to be shared by and allow us plenty of time before then to edit, format and schedule your story.

Structure your press release as an inverted pyramid with the most essential information — including the who, what, when, where and why — at the top of your story and with subsequent information presented in descending order of importance. Aim to keep your lead (first) paragraph at 35 words or less. Use the University’s Editorial Style Guidelines and avoid technical jargon or overstatements.

Please note that submissions are rarely used exactly as they are originally written. Our staff may edit your submitted press release for length and clarity or to conform with journalistic style and Murray State’s Editorial Style Guidelines. All edited press releases will be returned to you as a PDF for final review to ensure no errors were introduced as a result of editorial changes.

The “less is more” approach is a good place to start. We reserve the right to edit items for length if they are more than 500–600 words and may return lengthy items for you to condense.

We will consider using high-resolution, publication-quality submitted photos when sharing stories. Please include a caption and relevant credit information for each submitted photo. If people are included in the photo, include their names (from left to right) in the caption.

General best practices for taking photos include avoiding any blurriness and considering the lighting and faces of subjects. While camera technology in cell phones has improved significantly over the years, some older cell phone models may not have the appropriate software. Subsequently, if a photo is not of a high enough quality, the Office of Branding, Marketing and Communication reserves the right not to use a submitted photo and will select an alternative option.

• Use the University’s Editorial Style Guidelines to ensure consistency and accuracy in language.
• Include the hometowns and majors of all students mentioned in the press release. This will allow us to send the press release to students’ hometown media outlets. Note: If this information is not included in your original submission, it will take longer for the Office of Branding, Marketing and Communication to obtain these details.
• Assume your reader knows nothing about the subject at hand and present complicated ideas clearly (don’t write for the expert but for everyone). Avoid technical jargon and complex turns of phrase.
• Provide a way for readers to learn more, including a name and contact information for an individual willing and available to answer questions. Include a URL if a relevant webpage exists.
• Keep your paragraphs short and concise.
• Consider human interest elements when pitching or submitting a story. For example, a story about the work being done as a result of a grant and the impact of that work will typically be more interesting to readers than simply hearing news of a faculty member receiving the grant.

• Shawn Touney, executive director of marketing and communications, can be reached at 270.809.4437 or stouney@murraystate.edu with questions about the Office of Branding, Marketing and Communication’s services, which include the University’s public relations efforts.
• Jennifer Cline, associate director of marketing and communications, can be reached at 270.809.4530 or jcline9@murraystate.edu with questions about editorial style guidelines, press releases, feature stories, Blue & Gold website, Racer Nation Information e-newsletter and University Calendar as well as pitches for the Blue & Gold alumni magazine.