News Announcements
We keep the media up to date on the continuous newsworthy events happening at Southern, issuing scores of press releases and story tips every year.

Reporters are always interested in new and interesting research that would appeal to a general audience – off-beat or colorful feature stories and programs that are relevant to the off-campus community.

Responses to Reporters
We respond to dozens of media-related calls and electronic queries each month, providing assistance on stories, help in arranging interviews, names of experts and other details. Once we put you in touch with a reporter, we’re happy to talk with you about the interview process. Here are some advice and tips when working with the media.

Southern Sources
Expert opinion is always sought after by all forms of media. We regularly try to anticipate the coverage of major events and contact members of the press with names of appropriate faculty as the events happen. We accomplish this with Southern Sources, a listing of faculty, together with short summaries of their expertise and contact numbers.

Faculty Experts Database
Southern's faculty represents a wealth of knowledge and experience. We often receive requests from members of the media for faculty experts to comment on current events or other issues that are of interest to the public. If you’d like to become part of our faculty experts database and make your expertise available to reporters and editors, fill out the form here and return it to us. We will add you to the online database and keep your information on file.

Connect with Reporters Through ProfNet
ProfNet is an online service through which reporters and writers from around the country seek expert opinion on a wide range of topics. We peruse this service daily and, when we think we can match a Southern professor with a reporter’s request, we offer the faculty member's name and contact number and a description of his or her expertise. We have had several professors placed in national publications through our use of ProfNet. If you’d like to be considered as a ProfNet source, contact Joe Musante at 392-5073.

Write Op-Ed Columns
Opinion columns written by professors are an excellent way for faculty to showcase their expertise and indirectly demonstrate the high quality of a university's academic programs. Here at Southern, we have a small group of professors whose columns are regularly published in regional newspapers. One of the goals of the Public Affairs Office is to build on this base and develop a full-fledged op-ed program targeting national as well as regional media. We will help faculty members with developing ideas, editing copy, and pitching the completed columns to the appropriate editors. For more information, call Patrick Dilger at 392-6588.

Southern Scene
During the academic year, we run weekly advertisements in local newspapers, highlighting arts and other cultural events at Southern. If a faculty member or department is sponsoring an event such as a lecture or poetry reading, we are happy to help publicize it. For details, call Betsy Beacom at 392-6589 or email her at beacomb1@southernct.edu.

SouthernLife
Published monthly during the academic year, Southern’s community newspaper features faculty profiles and accomplishments as well as news from around campus. SouthernLife’s 5,000 copies are distributed to all faculty, staff, and students as well as to alumni, faculty emeriti, members of the CSU Board of Trustees, the state Board of Higher Education, and more than 800 business, education, and community leaders. To suggest a story idea or have your latest lecture, article or other academic achievement highlighted in the paper’s SouthernLights section, call editor Patrick Dilger at 392-6588, or email him at dilgerp1@southernct.edu.

Southern Magazine
Published twice a year, Southern’s alumni magazine features faculty profiles, the latest campus information and alumni news. It is distributed to 50,000 Southern alumni, friends, and members of the campus community. To suggest story ideas or offer news about prominent graduates, call Production Editor Villia Struyk at 392-6591 or email her at struykv1@southernct.edu.

Southern’s Web Site
www.SouthernCT.edu
The university’s Web site is maintained in Public Affairs and features a comprehensive listing of campus events, news stories, faculty profiles, and other information that is useful to prospective and current students, faculty, and staff. Southern’s Web site receives about 300,000 hits a month.

A final note....
Here in Public Affairs, we’re happy to sit down and talk with you about your work and ways to publicize it. There are many ways of pitching a story – sometimes the best way isn’t the most obvious. Sorting out what’s newsworthy is our job. All we ask is that you offer your ideas and let us know what you are doing. Stop by our office in Wintergreen 162, e-mail us a short description of your latest project, or send us a synopsis via the campus mail. The more we know about you and your work, the better we can help you.