Become a faculty/staff expert
The biggest part of our mission at University Communications and Marketing is to share SIU’s compelling story with its most important constituents. One key to achieving that mission is to connect members of the media with university-related research and information that is important, interesting and meaningful to our community.
Often, part of that responsibility includes connecting members of the media with people on our faculty and staff with specialized knowledge about specific topics. That is where our faculty and staff experts play a vital role.
What does it mean to be a faculty/staff expert?
Faculty and staff experts are people affiliated with SIU who have developed expertise in particular fields or specific topics and are willing to speak with members of the media about that topic.
Experts may be asked to provide historical or background information, explain a complex concept in layman’s terms or provide context for a newsworthy topic or event.
How can becoming a faculty/staff expert benefit me and SIU?
Speaking to the media can help you to stand out as a leader in your field, educate the public on a topic you’re passionate about and spread your research to new audiences.
If you’re often frustrated by common misconceptions or misunderstandings about particular topics, speaking to the media can help you counter those misperceptions and disseminate the right information.
As a public institution, our reputation revolves around the reputations of our students, alumni, faculty and staff. By providing relevant, accurate information on noteworthy topics, you help advance SIU’s mission to create and exchange knowledge and improve our communities.
What are my responsibilities as a faculty/staff expert?
By signing up as an expert, you agree to be responsive to media requests, represent SIU in a positive and respectful manner, and speak only to topics within your scope of expertise.
Why is it important to be responsive?
Reporters are often working on tight deadlines, often within the same day. Delayed responses to phone calls or emails could mean that the reporter will move on to another source, or leave information out of their story entirely.
This can mean a missed opportunity to reach key audiences and a soured relationship with that reporter. Because you represent SIU as an institution, that soured relationship can have echoes with other departments and individuals.