Over their time at a university, faculty and staff may face communication situations that are difficult to navigate. The following is a set of guidelines and tips to help faculty and staff.
Talking to the Media: Handling Media Requests and Interviews
Faculty and staff may be contacted by members of the media directly to comment on a topic, situation, or policy at the University. It's a good idea to contact University Communications prior to responding to reporters. Faculty should also inform their Department Chair and Dean about the communicaiton. University Communications staff may also contact you to respond to a media call. Although it is not feasible to meet every media request, know that lending expertise can help frame issues for the general public, while also building important relationships with reporters. This may prove useful in the future (such as when it comes time to highlight a new grant or research project).
University Communications staff can provide tips on working with the media. Note that reporters typically work on tight deadlines (often a day or less).
Press Releases and Media Advisories
If you are planning an event, or have a newsworthy announcement, a press release or media advisory to local or national media can be an effective way to get the word out.
To announce an upcoming event, such as a lecture or performance, the deadlines for newspapers are typically four weeks in advance of the event. Contact University Communications staff to discuss whether a press release or media advisory is the best way to meet your promotional needs. See examples of recent University news releases and media advisories.
Guidance on Publishing Op-Eds
Op-eds and opinion essays are a valuable communications tool for Portland State and a platform for faculty and staff to weigh in on hot topics in the media for the purpose of sharing their expertise and contributing to the national dialogue. The University Communications media team is available to work with faculty members on drafting and placing op-eds. Please notify the University Communications Media Relations team if you are planning to submit an op-ed on any topic that is intended for major news outlets/newspapers. Opinion pieces written in discipline-specific academic/scholarly journals are standard scholarly publications and do not need review.
Social Media Guidelines For Personal and Professional Use
Social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and Instagram are powerful communication tools that impact organizational, professional, and personal reputations. They also easily blur the lines between institutional and personal voices. The office of University Communications developed the guidelines to help individuals utilize social media channels, on behalf of PSU, and for personal use, in a professional capacity. Visit the guidelines page and view the best practices for commenting on Social Media.
Facebook also has some support tools.
Online Harassment
In recognition of the potential challenges posed by online harassment, this field guide offers strategies for how to defend yourself and others.
Engaging In Political Activity as a University Employee
Oregon's government ethics laws are prefaced with the statement, ". . . a public office is a public trust." Accordingly, the laws are designed to assure that public employees take action in the interest of the general public. This guide is provided to assist you, as a public employee, to understand your rights and responsibilities under Oregon's government ethics laws. Read the full ORS - Chapter 244.
Read the Public Service Ethics summary here.
Using the University's name or Affiliation
The PSU logo cannot be modified or used for personal endorsements, and the PSU name cannot be used to promote a product, cause, political party, or candidate.
As noted above, social media can easily blur the lines between institutional and personal voices; please refer to the guidance in the "Social Media Guidelines For Personal and Professional Use " section.