Press Office

The Press Office is the official link between the University and external media and we manage the University’s media profile. We have responsibility for some additional internal and external communications activities.

Media relations

We work with local, regional, national and international newspapers, magazines, online and broadcast media in the following ways:

  • Writing and issuing press releases on newsworthy activity at the University. This includes working with the Schools to generate coverage for research.
  • Publicising major developments at the University and coordinating media coverage for our events.
  • Coordinating responses to media enquiries about the University and its research. We produce an experts’ directory to help guide journalists to the right academic for expert comment.
  • Supervising media visits to the University, including filming by TV news crews and documentary companies and press photography.
  • Pre-empting and managing potential ‘bad news’ to ensure the University gets its messages across to the media in the most effective way.

We manage a programme of media training for academics, senior managers and other staff who are likely to be asked to speak to the media. Places are limited, so we select attendees based on the likelihood of them using the skills for media interviews. If you think media training would be useful and appropriate to you, please contact us.

We are also responsible for media monitoring. We produce a weekly report of the University’s media coverage. If you would like to receive this information by email, please contact us.

Internal communications

We produce our internal e-newsletter, News in Brief, and a version for students.

Corporate communications

We write Research News, the University’s twice-yearly magazine for research stakeholders (including funders) and University staff.

We work with colleagues in Communication Services and across the University to develop and implement strategic communication plans for major projects (e.g. capital programmes, Science Strategy).

We are also responsible for the news section of the University website.