Submit a Story Idea

Have a good story to tell? The media relations team can help put it in the spotlight and show our community—or even the world—the achievements and spirit of Purdue Fort Wayne.

Stories can be communicated in various ways. News releases are distributed to media outlets all over northeastern Indiana and beyond, depending on what they are about and the most appropriate audience to target.

Some topics are shared through our flagship social media platforms; others may be better suited for inclusion in one of our internal newsletters—Inside PFW for faculty and staff and Don Life for all currently enrolled students.

General Guidelines

Purdue Fort Wayne is a dynamic university made up of students, faculty, and staff who regularly demonstrate success inside and outside of the classroom. Examples of these accomplishments are reviewed for external communication on a case-by-case basis with items of wider appeal receiving greater consideration.

Here are some of the questions often used to decide if we can promote your story:

• How recent is the news? Can we connect it to a topic trending in the media?
• Does your story show faculty and student expertise, research, and/or community engagement?
• Will your story grab the attention of prospective applicants to Purdue Fort Wayne?
• Does the story set us apart from other institutions?
• Can we promote this story in a unique or interesting way?
• Does the story illustrate institutional knowledge or resources that benefit the community?
• Is this story visually interesting?
• Does the topic highlight the student experience?
• Is this an event open to the public, specifically an activity focused on recruitment, retention, and development?
• Can the university communicate the project while balancing other obligations?

Specific Guidelines

Individual Projects, Pursuits, Accolades

• Published works including, but not limited to, books, articles, and academic papers are not considered for communication unless they are mentioned in reference to university activities such as lectures or exhibits that are open to the entire community. Items of national or international significance will be considered.
• Awards and accolades of major significance will be assessed on a case-by-case basis for a possible news release.
• Non-sponsored, off-campus events need to have a direct connection to the university and clearly demonstrate how a member of our campus community is being highlighted in a featured role. Individual or group participation in external activities does not by itself guarantee promotion or coverage
• Group and individual fundraising and/or involvement in initiatives benefitting an external organization will not be communicated unless the university is directly involved in the execution of the campaign or is a designated beneficiary of the efforts.

Employment Announcements

• Information related to arrivals, promotions, and transfers will only be considered for publication as a standalone communication if the individual holds a position of executive director or higher, or their essential job functions consist primarily of outward-facing interactions with external individuals and entities. General information provided by Human Resources that lists new hires and transfers does appear periodically in the On the Job section of Inside PFW.
• The communication of retirement open houses and celebrations will be considered if the activity is open to the entire campus community.

Student and Class Projects

• Individual or group activities related to routine coursework, including capstone projects, do not qualify for communication unless the work involves a significant and clearly defined link between the university and community.
• Exceptions to this general practice may be considered if information on the project is submitted for review with adequate advance notice and if the topic is determined by the media relations team to be of interest to a broad university audience.

Submissions

Submit your story ideas or questions to [email protected] for consideration. Write “STORY IDEA” in the subject line to help us keep track of your email. You will receive a response within five business days with a message informing you of the best way to share your information.

Note that most news releases are assessed at least two to three weeks in advance to ensure that the content remains current, timely, and relevant.

It is highly recommended that you submit requests for campus event promotion four weeks in advance for full consideration.

All submitted story ideas will be taken under consideration. Editorial decisions regarding proposed content rest solely with the media relations team. Appeals should be directed first to the senior director of media relations. Final decisions about the external communication of content are made by the vice chancellor for Communications and Marketing or their designee.