Sample Press Release
Here are a few sample press releases created for my campaigns class, where I was Account Executive. The campaign focused on the importance of diversity in hiring within the field of STEM at the University of North Florida.
DURING CAMPAIGN:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Dr. Alexandra Schönning
(904) 620-2357
aschonni@unf.edu
New training films prepare STEM search committees to be more diverse, and inclusive
JACKSONVILLE, Fla (Sept. 1, 2022) – University of North Florida (UNF) currently has five openings among the faculty in STEM. As search committees assemble and begin reviewing files,
we see training films from the “Inclusive Excellence: Best Practices for Faculty Searches” campaign in action.
UNF’s human resources department has procedures to ensure continuity in how people are onboarding onto UNF’s faculty and staff. One of the initiatives in place are new training films. The training films are educating search committees on how to avoid bias in the pre-employment screening process. Removing bias will allow for more diverse candidates to come in and have the chance to be hired on.
While procedures are in place, Dr. Schönning intends to not just plant rules but mirror examples of how the culture needs to shift. This includes removing bias and shedding prejudices during the onboarding process. Throughout the campaign, there are reminders displayed for faculty members to bring awareness to how they are creating a space for inclusion.
Diversity is important to any well-rounded organization. But without inclusion, the audiences will never connect.
“I believe that diversity allows for people to have a seat at the table, and inclusion allows for them to be a part of the conversation,” Dr. Schonning said. This motif is modeled throughout the whole campaign in hopes to begin to be modeled in the culture at UNF.
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AFTER CAMPAIGN:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:Dr. Alexandra Schönning
Phone: (904) 620-2357
Email: aschonni@unf.edu
New STEM hires reflect UNF’s commitment to diverse, inclusive faculty
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Mar. 1, 2023) – Enhanced hiring practices in University of North Florida’s (UNF) STEM programs yielded a more diverse faculty for the 2022 year. This follows the success of its “Inclusive Excellence: Best Practices for Faculty Searches” campaign.
The campaign helped increase diversity in the engineering and mathematics departments, said Dr. Alexandra Schönning, the campaign’s leader.
“I looked around and saw a need, and knew this need must be fixed from the root of the issue,” said Dr. Schönning, a full professor in the College of Computing, Engineering & Construction. “I could’ve never imagined how much of a success this campaign would be. I know this is only the beginning of inclusivity in STEM, but I’m prepared to tackle more.”
The campaign was a 9-month initiative that resulted in three new faculty members. Two females joined the engineering department, and one male joined the mathematics department. Each of them were different ethnicities. The campaign used new training films and promotional materials
to reach department chairs and faculty members and search committee members at each phase of the hiring process.
The $2,900 campaign gave students the opportunity to be involved in the hiring process and express their opinions on it.
The campaign echoed the campus’ “Uniquely UNF” campaign by demonstrating how diversity and inclusion make the campus special,” said Isabel Pease, director of UNF’s marketing and publications office.
"We wanted to create high visibility to reinforce UNF’s presence and value in our community," Pease said.
Prior to this campaign, diversity and inclusion within STEM at UNF was nearly nonexistent. Among department chairs within STEM, were only men with only a few of them being people of color. Dr. Schönning, being one of the few full female professors.
“I looked around and saw a need, and knew this need must be fixed from the root of the issue. Enhancing the hiring practices, fixes the need,” Dr. Schönning said when sharing her mission behind the campaign.
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