{"id":211,"date":"2011-08-02T15:19:14","date_gmt":"2011-08-02T19:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/?page_id=211"},"modified":"2022-11-28T12:06:29","modified_gmt":"2022-11-28T17:06:29","slug":"working-with-media","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/plugged-in\/policies-guidelines\/working-with-media\/","title":{"rendered":"Working with Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

While we have many resources to offer to the media, a multifaceted, strategic approach is recommended. Traditionally, you could send out a page-long news release to your local media contact and it would get covered. Today, media receives information from multiple sources throughout the day, and have limited staff to respond, so outlets are faced with choosing from competing topics. Because they have dwindling time and resources, we need to be very thoughtful and succinct about our approach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What hasn\u2019t changed is that relationships continue to play a key role. It is recommended you keep local media relationships strong by checking in with them at least once a year on how they prefer to receive information and in what format. More information on maintaining these relationships is below.<\/span><\/p>\n

We as an organization currently make sure our news is distributed on multiple platforms such as targeted information to email lists and utilizing official social media accounts. Please keep in mind that short and simple is generally best.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our name \u2013<\/b> Consistency is key<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Presenting a consistent name is a key step toward establishing organizational recognition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our formal name is <\/span>University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/b>. This name is used in formal locations such as stationery, web pages, envelopes, and contracts. We increase public recognition of our organization through frequent, consistent use of our name.<\/span><\/p>\n

In written materials, our full formal name is used for the <\/span>first<\/b> mention; a shortened\u00a0 \u2018<\/span>UMaine Extension<\/b>\u2018 is used for the <\/span>second<\/b> mention; additional mentions in the same piece can be shortened further to \u2018<\/span>Extension<\/b>.\u2019\u00a0 Consistent use helps avoid confusion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some things to avoid include adding the word \u201cService\u201d which was dropped from our official name in the late 1980s.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, please avoid referring to our organization as \u201cUMCE\u201d or “UMaine Cooperative Extension.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, <\/span>because our official logo is based on the University of Maine logo, the word \u201cThe\u201d does appear. However, when referring to us verbally or in writing, simply use \u201cUniversity of Maine Cooperative Extension.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Promoting scheduled events<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For more in-depth information on event promotion, see <\/span>Checklist for Promoting Your Event<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n