As a faculty member, your insights and expertise are valuable to journalists. Our team can help you: prepare for interviews, proactively pitch media coverage of your work, coordinate logistics with reporters and share media coverage of Wake Forest faculty and programs with the University community. Below are quick tips for engaging with media.
Interested in media training?
Contact the news team to sign up for a workshop or get help preparing for an interview.
A reference guide:
Contact the news team
We can help you refine your message and coordinate all interactions with reporters.
Respond promptly to deadlines
Reporters often work under tight deadlines. Return calls as soon as possible and inquire about their specific deadline.
Identify the reporter and outlet
Ask for the reporter’s name and their media organization. Avoid playing favorites when granting interviews, as this can damage long-term relationships.
Ask key questions in advance
Clarify the story’s angle, target audience, interview format (live or recorded), and deadline. Ask for sample questions and/or topics.
Prepare core messages
Develop 2-3 concise core messages tailored to the intended audience. Gather facts, figures, and anecdotes to support these points. Anticipate potential questions and prepare responses.
More Resources
Five tips for scientists speaking to reporters |Sciline/AAAS
AAAS Communication Toolkit | American Association for the Advancement of Science | The comprehensive toolkit provides guidance for scientists to build skills for more effective communication and engagement with public audiences.
Share your news
Your stories inspire and inform the content created by the UMC team, and they help unify our community, define our sense of purpose and identity, and bring the Wake Forest experience to life for all of our audiences.
Questions?
The news team is here to help. Contact media@wfu.edu
Toolkit Contents:
Why promote your research?
How to work with the News & Public Relations Team
Storytelling: how to make research and scholarship accessible
Working with media: a reference guide
Social media: quick tips for faculty
Writing for The Conversation
Op-eds and guest columns
