Effective communication and meaningful relationships are the results of careful planning, creativity and hard work. As storytellers and strategists, our news and media relations team connects UMSL with its audiences and stakeholders.
What we do
Content writers within University Marketing and Communications work on behalf of the entire university, assisting campus units and individuals with news media coverage, including press releases and media pitches, and sharing stories through UMSL publications, including UMSL Daily and UMSL Magazine. We’re always happy to hear from any member of the campus community regarding story ideas and public relations projects, but our staff size also means we have to be selective in the stories and PR projects we pursue on behalf of UMSL. It is critical that our work aligns with the university's strategic plan and supports our mission to transform lives.
Have a Story Idea?
Tell us about the people, achievements and events happening across UMSL.
Great stories start with people making a difference. Here are some of the stories we share.
Student Success
Know a student who has landed a job? Conducted a cool research project? Worked/volunteered/interned for an important cause or organization? Has a scholarship that’s opened up higher education possibilities for them? We want to tell their stories!
Alumni Spotlights
Know an alumnus/a who has gone on to an impressive career? Won an award? Shaped the community?
Faculty and Staff Highlights
Leading research that could interest the public? Won an award or a grant of $1 million or more? Teaching a unique course or making a difference in campus life or student success? We want to hear about it.
Program Stories
Have a new degree track? Has your program received a new ranking or award?
Campus Growth
Is your neck of the woods on campus growing? Have a new building? Establishing a new student or community space?
Events Coverage
Hosting an event with a celebrity or topic with greater public appeal? Does it focus on the community and bettering campus or the region? Invite us to cover it!
How we share UMSL stories
Our team touts UMSL's exceptional people and programs in a number of ways, including:
Report, write and distribute information to the news media.
Help connect news media with UMSL faculty, staff or students to discuss the news of the day.
Create and post news and information to UMSL Daily, which is shared through weekly and monthly email newsletters.
Report and write stories for UMSL Magazine, the university's biannual print publication.
Plan and execute communication projects.
Survey our audiences and conduct other research.
Create stories and content for various other publications and websites.
Who to contact with your story or PR idea
Submit your ideas for news and media coverage to umslnews@umsl.edu or contact Steve Walentik at (314) 516-6690.
Social Media
Social media is an excellent way to communicate with a wider audience. Review our social media guidelines to learn more about best practices and guidelines for social media managers across campus. Curious what accounts already exist? Check out the social media directory.
