Media Relations
Strategic Communications
The university in the headlines.
Our university communications team includes curious reporters and talented writers. We capture Mastodon moments, share in-depth interviews, and report on campus life and changes. By maintaining numerous connections with local, regional, and national news organizations, writers, and editors, we can help shape the university’s story and make sure that the news from the Herd is loud and strong.
Case Study
Unveiling the Bones
Challenge
In 2024, the skeleton that inspired the university’s mascot finally came home after a long sabbatical at other institutions. The problem was that we were facing a time crunch to build the display case while keeping the news quiet before an official release.
Solution
We decided the best approach was to schedule a media availability featuring key players as soon as the display case was finished so that outlets could share their experiences in front of the finished product.
Result
During the first week of coverage, the story of Purdue Fort Wayne’s mastodon bones and their fascinating journey caught the attention of multiple news outlets between Kansas City, Missouri, and Burlington, Vermont. In those first five days after the external news release was distributed, more than 40 television news outlets broadcast stories to an estimated 446,000 viewers. Print coverage also included an article and photo in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Some of the stories included links back to our internal reporting in our News Center.