Characteristics of electronic media (film, television, and radio), their strengths and weaknesses, advantages and disadvantages, and how alumni can use these media are explored. (JMF)

Discusses the importance of communicating the positive events in gifted programs to garner community support and involvement. Presents recommendations for relating program events to the community through newspapers, television, and radio sources. Describes the strategies to use in dealing with these different media outlets. (CR)

Discusses the danger in producing showy events that appeal to the media and get positive attention and budgetary support for gifted programs, rather than focusing on the substance of those programs. Questions that professionals and parents should consider before embarking on a project or competition are provided. (CR)

In the University of California Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener Program, a partnership with the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency, volunteers teach approximately 1000 people annually how to compost in their backyards to help reduce landfill waste. Surveys conducted in 1995 and 1996 showed that home composters reduced their input into…

Discusses Internet access and monitoring in light of H. G. Wells' idea of a world brain or encyclopedia, or mind of the species. Topics include the evolution and effects of Internet access, including employee productivity, network bandwidth, and legal liabilities or negative publicity; and Internet usage and security policy. (LRW)

An interview with professor and journalist Jerry Footlick focuses on his recent book, "Truth and Consequences: How Colleges and Universities Respond to Public Crises," which presents case studies of how institutions deal with scandal, lawsuits, or other crises, focusing on media relations and the role of university public affairs staff. (MDM)

University public relations directors are offered guidelines for conducting an economic impact study to evaluate the institution's worth to the community. Discussed are positive and negative aspects of such studies, the selection of a formal or informal research approach, testing study validity, and disseminating the information. (DB)

Describes a survey of public library users that examined three issues related to the marketing of public library services to seniors: (1) the identification of the market segment; (2) the feasibility of various approaches to service development; and (3) the level of existing public support and strategies for successfully promoting these services.…

Includes three separate discussions of child care issues. Topics include: 1) examples of national media coverage which depict child care negatively; 2) results of a Census Bureau Report concerning Dual Employed Families, with Kids; 3) the ABC Bill in congressional negotiations. (RJC)

Describes a successful campaign to enact a new state documents depository law in North Carolina, including the process of accumulating evidence, developing system guidelines and draft legislation, building grassroots support, promoting positive media coverage, and lobbying for legislation. The core collection of North Carolina state documents is…

Discusses the problem of communicating the implications of research findings to the public without distorting, diluting, or sensationalizing. Suggests approaches researchers can take when dealing with the popular media. (MS)

By working with the media, educators can turn adverse situations to their advantage and create better school-media-community relations. Nine basic rules of thumb are presented for dealing with the media, and advice is provided for keeping the media informed and for crisis management. (Author/TE)

This article discusses the ways that universities deal with controversial issues that are widely publicized in the popular press. Citing specific cases involving the University of Virginia, the University of Utah, the University of Pennsylvania, and Brown University (Rhode Island), it examines institutional public relations in the wake of…

Describes the Danville Public Library's (Illinois) planning and implementation of a groundbreaking ceremony and provides guidelines for the process. Highlights include early planning, the planning staff, publicity, videotaping, selecting a convenient time, decorations, invitations, knowing individual responsibilities, commemorative items, and a…

A survey of 2,006 students from 12 Perth (Australia) high schools (80 percent response) found positive attitudes toward military careers, a pragmatic view of career paths, family influence on career choice, and a positive impact of a promotional campaign for the armed forces. (SK)