Media Relations FAQ

I have a news item that I think would be worthy of media outreach. When should I contact the Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications (MarComm)?

As soon as possible. Please email your pitch idea to unonews@unomaha.edu at least two weeks in advance of an event or desired release date. That provides time to gather information, develop an announcement, and execute an outreach plan. The longer the office has to work on a project, the better the opportunity for media attention.

Remember, great news stories have strong news value. Learn what we consider newsworthy.

I have expertise in a certain subject matter and would like to make myself available to the media. What should I do to make that happen?

MarComm regularly connects journalists with UNO experts. If you are interested in providing expert insight to journalists, email unonews@unomaha.edu with your college communicator CC'd in.

What do I do if a reporter calls my office or leaves a message?

MarComm's Media Interview Guide walks you through the next steps and important considerations.

What training is available?

The Media Relations team will sit down with you to share best practices, identify key messages, and conduct a practice interview. More rigorous training is available for sensitive topics that pose a reputational risk.

Email unonews@unomaha.edu to request training.

Why didn’t my event or news item get picked up by any media outlets?

Even if you have a great story, coverage is never a guarantee. Media outlets of all sizes struggle with allocating reporters' limited time. Many assignment editors receive hundreds of pitches each day, as teams weigh coverage decisions that must also include breaking news and long-form projects.

MarComm will leverage its staff's professional relationships and expertise to maximize the chance of earned media coverage on every project. Remember, high news value is the biggest predictor of coverage.