We leverage our relationships with local and national media to amplify your message.
The Communications Office partners with various news and media outlets--from radio and television broadcasts, to journals, newspapers, and digital media--to inform target audiences. News and information flows both ways; we often get inquiries from reporters asking for expert comment on a specific topic. Our office also proactively pitches College-level, strategically important stories to media members, hoping for a straight pick-up or follow-up coverage.
If you have a media request and would like assistance in preparing or vetting the media outlet, please contact the MarCom office. Our team has wide-ranging experience in public relations, media pitching, media training, and producing.
Ashley Lawrence is the primary media contact for the College. If you are approached by a media professional for an interview or quote, or if you have an original or upcoming story that garners broad attention, let us know!
REMINDER: If the media contacts you for a quote on a news story about the College or university unrelated to an event, research, or expert viewpoint, politely decline to comment and direct them to the university spokesperson at stratcom@illinois.edu or call 217-333-5010. University employees should not speak on behalf of the university without the guidance of StratCom.
Official statements distributed over StratCom channels are carefully crafted and vetted. Units may share these official statements on their own channels and accounts, but questions that units receive in response to the content should be directed back to StratCom.