Florida State University’s integrated marketing and communications strategy focuses on enhancing the reputation of the institution by increasing national and international media coverage for research, creative activities, faculty, student achievement, institutional priorities and innovative programs. The Office of University Communications, in collaboration with communicators across the university, pitches story ideas, provides experts lists, writes news releases, and creates and distributes digital and social media content for use by producers, editors and journalists across the globe. Visit news.fsu.edu for up-to-date news.
Faculty experts Roy Baumeister, Eric Chassignet, Lance deHaven-Smith, Barry Faulk, Pam Graham, Marshall Kapp, Edmund Myers, James Olcese, Lynn Panton, Jayne Standley, Chad Van Iddekinge and Amy Wetherby were among those featured by some of the top media outlets in the United States and abroad in February. Stories that featured them, as well as other stories highlighting university initiatives and student success, were published or broadcast by numerous media outlets, including ABC’s 20/20, Christian Science Monitor, Businessweek, Huffington Post and Time magazine.
There were more than 1,875 media placements in February, an unusually high number in a month dominated by news of President Eric. J. Barron’s departure and other issues. An analysis of the media coverage is as follows:
Focus Summary Geographic Summary n 9% research/faculty n 49% regional n 12% college, unit or student focus n 44% national n 79% other features, issues n 7% international management and/or editorials
Social Media § FSU gained 1,986 new Facebook fans in February; there was an average engagement rate of 10% (compared to a 1% industry average) while the high quality engagement rate was 1.2%. The total reach for the month was 1.3 million users. § Twitter (@floridastate) increased by 680 followers. § There were more than 313 million total impressions across Facebook and Twitter; 19,447 views via YouTube; and 12,361 likes and comments on Instagram.
Broadcast Media § There were 1,392 mentions of Florida State University in national media outlets, such as ABC’s 20/20, and major television and radio markets across the country including Chicago, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
The following provides highlights of media placements resulting from pitching, news releases, news events and collaborative efforts:
Florida State University Media Highlights 1
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL (RESEARCH)
Preterm Labor Prevention — James Olcese, associate professor of biomedical sciences, neuroscience & molecular biophysics in the College of Medicine, is developing a pair of goggles for pregnant women that could prevent preterm labor. A University Communications news release generated media coverage in Headlines & Global News, FSView & Florida Flambeau, WTXL ABC 27, WWSB ABC 7, Bio-Medicine, Medical Xpress, The Medical News and News-Medical.Net.
Oil Spill Research — Eric Chassignet, director of the Deep-C Consortium and the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, teamed up with students from the West Florida High School of Advanced Technology to search for oil patties from the Deepwater Horizon spill. After University Communications issued a news release, several media outlets reported the findings, including Businessweek, Environmental News Network, Seadiscovery.com, Maritime Professional and Marine Link.
Autism Diagnosis — College of Medicine Distinguished Research Professor Amy Wetherby, director of the FSU Autism Institute, is leading the research on a new project that will screen infants as young as 12 months old for autism and communication delays by using smart technology. A University Communications news release generated media coverage in Health, Medical and Science Updates, Health Canal and The Medical News.
Breast Cancer Patients — A new study conducted by Lynn Panton, associate professor in the College of Human Sciences, has found that breast cancer survivors can reap benefits from weight training programs. A University Communications news release generated media coverage in Zimbabwe Star, Business Standard, Health Canal, FSView and Florida Flambeau and WTXL.
Employee Quitting — Chad Van Iddekinge, the Synovus Research Associate and associate professor of management in the College of Business, contributed to a study that identified 10 signs that an employee may be getting ready to quit. Several media outlets covered the research, including the Salt Lake Tribune, Businessweek, Business Journals and Business and Legal Resources.
FACULTY EXPERTISE
Musical Pacifier — Several media outlets quoted Jayne Standley, the Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor and the Ella Scoble Opperman Professor of Music in the College of Music, in articles reporting new research findings about the success of the musical pacifier she invented. Among the outlets: Reuters, Christian Science Monitor, Global Post, FOX News, NBC News and Medical Daily.
Michael Dunn Trial — Professor Lance deHaven-Smith in the College of Social Sciences’ Reubin O’D. Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, was quoted in Christian Science Monitor about Florida’s controversial ‘stand-your-ground’ law and its role in the trial of Michael Dunn, who faced first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of a teenager. Thomas Blomberg, dean of the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, was quoted by Al Jazeera America about the role the law might have played in the mistrial verdict.
Florida State University Media Highlights 2 Willpower — Research on willpower by Roy Baumeister, a Francis Eppes Eminent Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychology, was cited in articles in Time magazine, Huffington Post and Scientific American.
Child Abuse — Pam Graham, the Jeanene M. Janes Fellow in Child Welfare in the College of Social Work, was quoted in several news outlets after she spoke to a Florida legislative subcommittee about children who have died of abuse and neglect. Among the outlets: Tampa Bay Times, The Tampa Tribune, Sunshine State News and CBS Miami.
Electron Mass — The Christian Science Monitor and Yahoo! News quoted University Distinguished Scholar Edmund Myers, staff physicist in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Physics, about scientists’ most precise measurement yet of an electron’s atomic mass.
Gun Control — Gary Kleck, the David J. Bordua Professor of Criminology in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, appeared on ABC’s news magazine program “20/20” in a story about using guns for self-protection.
Health Care — Marshall Kapp, director of the Center for Innovative Collaboration in Medicine and Law, a joint effort of the College of Law and the College of Medicine, was quoted by WFSU-FM in a story about conflict between doctors, nurses and pharmacists about scope of practice.
Beatlemania — A University Communications expert tip sheet on the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ arrival in the United States resulted in Barry Faulk's appearance on Consequence of Sound, a Chicago-based online music magazine. The online magazine's "Rock it Out!" program featured Faulk, a professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences. Faulk also was interviewed by Peter St. James on the "New Hampshire Wake- Up Show."
STUDENT-CENTERED UNIVERSITY
TCC2FSU — The Tallahassee Democrat and WCTV were among the local media outlets who covered the announcement of the TCC2FSU Golden Guarantee Program, designed to improve the transition of Tallahassee Community College students who want to earn a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University.
ISSUES MANAGEMENT
Barron’s Departure — Hundreds of national and statewide media outlets reported the news about President Eric J. Barron being named president of Penn State. The media outlets included the New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Washington Post, FOX News, ABC News, ESPN, USA Today, NPR, Reuters, Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.
Hazing — Four members of the Sigma Chi fraternity were arrested on misdemeanor hazing charges. Huffington Post, First Coast News, United Press International, Health News Florida and FOX Tampa Bay reported the news.
Ryan Uhre — Dozens of statewide news outlets covered the disappearance of former FSU student Ryan Uhre who was later found deceased in an abandoned Tallahassee building. The media outlets included Sun Sentinel, Miami Herald, CBS News, Tallahassee Democrat and the Florida Current.
Florida State University Media Highlights 3