General Guidelines for Speaker Promotion

1. Before doing any publicity, consult with the speaker to determine his/her preferences.
   
   Do they want a large crowd? Small crowd?
   Would they welcome the press? Campus press? American-Statesman?
   Would they be willing to be interviewed by journalists?
   
   
2. Remember, not all speakers are newsworthy, even well-known ones. Consider who your speaker is, what they are talking about, and determine why people should care! 
   
   
3. Once you have determined the above, you can figure out what your goals are for publicity.
   
   Do you want to increase attendance?
   Promote a program?
   Promote a speaker?
   Seek coverage of the event in the Daily Texan?
   Seek coverage in a Texas newspaper? A national publication?
   
   Be aware that coverage of a speaking engagement in the national press is extremely rare unless serious news is committed, such as a major announcement, a first opinion from a national newsmaker, or -- alas -- a major gaffe. For many visitors, appearance in The Daily Texan is a worthy goal, since The University of Texas at Austin is the largest university campus in the U.S.
   
   
4. Consider the above goals when choosing the appropriate medium.
   
   For additional advice and resources, please consult www.mccombs.utexas.edu/resources/comm/pr/.

 

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For information on speaking events at McCombs, contact Public Affairs Representative Gayle Hight, 512-475-6423, gayle.hight@mccombs.utexas.edu.