Want to join News?
Email UMC Associate Director for Strategic Communications Kevin Bersett at kdberse@IllinoisState.edu to register for a News training. All of the trainings are held via Zoom and are a quick review of the user guide and an opportunity to ask questions. The following trainings have been scheduled for fall 2024:
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1-1:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 13 (Register by August 9)
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1-1:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 11 (Register by September 9)
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10-10:30 a.m., Thursday, October 17 (Register by October 14)
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10-10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 12 (Register by November 8)
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2-2:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 11 (Register by December 9)
Trainings are mandatory only for new users seeking access to the News system. Current users who would like a review of the system are welcome to attend but are not required to do so.
Need help?
Fill out Illinois State News Assistance Form and we'll get to work.
Who’s who?
Editorial questions
Photo questions
Story ideas
- University Marketing and Communications is always looking for good stories may they be about things happening on campus or alumni accomplishing extraordinary things off campus. Send ideas to Kevin Bersett.
WordPress functionality issues
Website functionality issues
News writing tips
Here are some things to keep in mind when you write a News post:
- Follow the University’s Voice and Tone and editorial style guidelines.
- Be accurate. Double-check the spelling of names and verify factual information.
- Know your audience. Think about for whom you are writing and what information they will need to understand the topic.
- Think about the call to action and the purpose of the story before you write.
- Place pertinent news information—who, what, when, where—near the top of the story.
- Show rather than tell by including anecdotes, facts, or other details that offer insight into the people or topics you are writing about.
- Use links to provide more information about a relevant topic.
- Avoid redundant quotations.
- Include, when possible, the key search term in the headline, lead paragraphs, and excerpt, and throughout the story.
- Use subheadings to break up longer stories and to help the reader easily find relevant information.
- Write for the reader, not for an internal audience.
- Avoid writing by committee. Choose one writer and have others edit the story.
- Draw in readers with interesting headlines, sidebars, photographs, and videos.