Axe ’Em, Jacks!
For decades, one of University Marketing Communications' most important missions has been to increase the positive media coverage of SFA. We develop relationships with members of the news media and facilitate their requests for information about SFA people and programs, and we're available to assist departments with media relations and content strategy.
We produce press releases regarding achievements by students, faculty and staff members, as well as topics such as awards or grants, group trips, major donations or renovations, new programs or national recognitions. Learn more about press release distribution in the External Communications section below.
Unsure if your item is newsworthy? Never hesitate to contact us and ask — there is almost always an outlet for sharing your area’s news. Email your college’s marketing representative or umc@sfasu.edu for general inquiries.
External Communications
- Press releases
- Once distributed to appropriate media outlets, releases are:
- posted to our Newsroom page
- shared through SFA Today
- and included in mass email distributions.
- Once distributed to appropriate media outlets, releases are:
- Sawdust Magazine
- Email campaigns
Internal Communications
- SFA Today: the university’s faculty- and staff-focused e-newsletter
- Shares major accomplishments and relevant news
- Designed to reduce the frequency of individual all-faculty/staff emails.
- Not designed to include any already emailed communication to the all faculty/staff listserv.
- News items must be submitted as an SFA Today ticket request by noon the business day prior to desired publication.
- Campus Email
- We can help draft and create an all faculty/staff or all student email to distribute through our CRM, Slate.
- mySFA announcements
- Any employee or student may submit their own announcement through mySFA.
- UMC team members are happy to help draft any announcement, if desired.
Media Relations
Building and sustaining a positive relationship with regional, state and national news media is an important part of UMC's role with the university. It's also the department's duty to keep an eye on public sentiment and have a general understanding of the university's public perception. Knowing how the university is perceived by outside audiences and reported on in the media helps us shape our marketing efforts.
We have two main rules for speaking with media:
- Reaching out to the media:
HOP policy 05-703 states SFA employees must not contact the news media without the assistance of UMC. This does not mean employees are barred from speaking to news media; rather they must first inform UMC of their desire to reach out so UMC can ensure media requests are well-coordinated. - If the media reaches out to you:
Faculty and staff who are contacted directly by the media with a request for their academic or professional expertise may respond, if they wish. Employees are discouraged from commenting on policies, actions or events outside of their immediate responsibilities or expertise. Employees are not required to speak to media if they are not comfortable doing so and may decline the request.
Whether an employee wishes to grant an interview or provide comments upon a request, UMC encourages employees to respond promptly to the media to either decline or to answer in a timely fashion.
Employees who speak to the media must inform UMC promptly – preferably before, but also shortly after – so UMC stays aware of any potential news coverage of the university and, by extension, better understand public perception of SFA.
Let us know of any media inquiries you've received by emailing umc@sfasu.edu or calling 936.468.2605.
Contact college marketing representatives
Do you have academic news you'd like to share? Contact your college's marketing representative.