Local reporters will always want to have a local angle on national events. Help them out by anticipating stories tied to seasons, annual educational events, and major national events and reports. Faculty are often excellent sources for “the big story” because they have the credibility and expertise to comment on events and issues related to their areas of expertise.

Faculty are also good sources of consumer advice stories. They are often looking for stories of how to pay for college, what careers are hot, and how to prepare freshmen for entry into college.

Media, particularly national media, want to report on what many colleges are doing, not just what one is doing. And just because a university has a “one and only” does not mean the media will write about it.

One way to publicize a small college in bigger media outlets is to research and report on how three or four other institutions are handling the same situation.

For more information on how you rlocal angle can tie nationally to get you publicity see Special Report #15 “15 Steps to Effective University and College Media Relations”