Communications Office

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What the Communications Office can do for you:

News releases and media advisories
Communications
Marketing/Advertising
Public Relations Training

News releases and media advisories
The news release is the most common way to ask the news media to become involved in our activities in some way. In some cases, we may want the media to simply publish basic information about an event or activity that is open to the public. In other instances, we hope the media will attend an activity or event and publish a feature story or include a story about it on their newscast. Either way, the end goal is to make our community aware of the terrific things happening at Palomar College. The media will use the information in our news releases as their needs, space, time and interests permit. News editors may choose to use all, a portion, or none of the information we supply in a news release. With ample advanced notice, the communications office will:

Pitch exciting, innovative projects in your class, department or division to the news media in hopes that they will publish a feature story.
Write and distribute news releases publicizing events/activities/opportunities that are open to the public.
Write and distribute news releases publicizing new or unusual course offerings.
Pitch Palomar College student and faculty success stories to local newspapers, television stations, educational publications, etc....

Communications
We often take it for granted that communications just happens, that people in-the-know will share information with people who need to know. But often, in our diligence to get our jobs done, communicating to and with employees, students, and the public is an inadvertent afterthought. The Communications Office can:

Assist you in identifying information needs surrounding your work.
Help you proactively develop important messages for students, employees or community members in a way that is easy to read and understand.
Help you proactively plan timing, logistics, practicality, and evaluation of critical messages to your target audiences.
Assist you with writing departmental newsletters or other written informational pieces.
Write feature stories about innovative projects, extraordinary student success stories, and remarkable faculty and staff accomplishments for publication in Palomar’s various newsletters as appropriate.
Include your announcements of upcoming events in various internal newsletters and the electronic marquee.
Submit your announcements to local news media and community calendars.

Marketing/Advertising
Palomar College is one of several excellent community colleges in San Diego County. Our sustenance is dependent upon enrollment, which is influenced by our marketing and advertising Palomar College, its programs, and its courses. Marketing efforts may be as diminutive as one or two isolated actions or as considerable as a full-blown, long-term campaign, depending on the objectives and resources available. The district annually allocates some funding for district-wide marketing efforts, while individual departments or divisions may also budget for marketing efforts specific to their services. The Communications Office will:

Assist you in developing and implementing marketing plans for your classes or programs.
Assist you in gathering estimated costs for intended marketing plans.
Assist you in developing an outreach card promoting your program.
Help you develop marketing materials to meet your specific objectives.
On some occasions, partner with you on marketing activities that have a broad reach and benefit to the district’s overall enrollment goals.
Join you in attendance at outreach fairs and community events.

Public relations training
We are pleased to add a few training opportunities to the excellent and comprehensive professional development programs already in place at Palomar College. Because of the size of our student body and number of classes offered, you may find it more expedient at times to publicize your own class, activity or program. As our local news media become more familiar with Palomar College as a resource for local-area experts, faculty members will be called upon more and more to do interviews with reporters. Like every business that depends upon clientele and income, Palomar College employees are our first and most powerful force in providing a friendly, helpful atmosphere. At your request, the Communications Office is happy to conduct hands-on, interactive employee workshops on:

News release writing.
Feature writing.
Media interviewing.
Customer service.
Public speaking.

Please check our website at www.palomar.edu/pio for request forms on most of the services listed above.