Brand Updates

Missouri State is hiring digital marketing professionals

by

Missouri State University is hiring two digital marketing professionals.

The digital marketing coordinator and digital marketing strategist will run marketing campaigns for university offices, colleges and departments.

The digital marketing team is part of the strategic communication office and will work with members of the marketing and communications team to plan and implement content strategy and digital campaigns.

The strategic communication office manages public relations, media relations, crisis communication and digital marketing for the university.

Digital marketing coordinator

The digital marketing coordinator manages the planning, execution, and measurement of university digital marketing campaigns. This person will manage projects from inception to completion and develop strategies that will help meet university marketing goals.

Digital marketing strategist

The digital marketing strategist purchases and places digital marketing ads and writes or edits content for digital marketing campaigns.

Benefits

Work-life balance is a priority for Missouri State University and the office of strategic communication.

The university offers very generous paid leave including vacation, sick leave, personal days and holidays.

Benefits include:

  • Four weeks of vacation annually.
  • 12 days of sick leave annually.
  • Generous staff holidays.
  • Health and dental insurance.
  • Retirement through the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System.
  • Credit and noncredit fee waivers.

Inquiries can be sent to AndreaMostyn@MissouriState.edu.

Apply online

BearWear Friday, but make it spooky

by

Lions and tigers and BearWear Halloween costumes! Oh my!  

Missouri State’s social media team challenges you to incorporate BearWear into your Halloween costume this year.  

You’ve probably heard about Missouri State’s tradition to sport your BearWear every Friday – at work, in the classroom or at home. 

On Nov. 1, we’ll have a bonus: A Halloween edition of #BearWearFriday. That’s right. #BearWearFriday can happen on a Monday, too. 

Rules of the challenge 

Direct message photos of you in your BearWear Halloween costume to @MissouriState on Instagram between Oct. 25-31 to be included in the #BearWearFriday Halloween post.  

Costume must include BearWear and be submitted via direct message to Missouri State on Instagram.  

Don’t have a BearWear Halloween costume this year? You can still appear on our Instagram account. Send your BearWear photos to us via direct message to be featured in future #BearWearFriday posts.  

Follow Missouri State on Instagram

Meet Sprout: A collaborative way to do social media

by

The community engagement pillar of public affairs extends to social media management. We have an opportunity to become even better in that space.

The office of university communications (UC) invites Missouri State faculty and staff to attend a demo with Sprout Social, one of the leading social media software companies in the industry. UC has used the platform for more than a year to manage university-level accounts. The investment helped its social media team work more collaboratively and create a better product.

Sprout Social is an all-in-one social media management platform that helps organizations around the country (including Missouri State) build stronger relationships with their audiences through streamlined social media engagement.

What Sprout can do

Sprout’s platform includes several features that allows organizations to:

  • Schedule and publish content across most social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
  • Retweet, like, share and reply to customer comments.
  • Tag user accounts and posts to better understand who’s interacting with you.
  • Create reports that analyze content that’s working … and content that isn’t.
  • And much more.

The details

Sprout representatives Chelsea Dunn and Lexi Fallon will provide a platform demonstration and answer questions 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. May 25, 2021 on Zoom.

The demo is free and open to Missouri State faculty and staff, including student workers and graduate assistants who operate official university social media accounts.

Join on Zoom

New AP style updates: Coronavirus

by

Here are some of the latest updates from the AP Stylebook when writing about the coronavirus, COVID-19 and related terms.

How to refer to the virus

  • Avoid using SARS-CoV-2, which is the actual name of the virus.
  • It’s acceptable to refer to the coronavirus on first reference in stories about the current pandemic.
  • A year into the outbreak, don’t use the terms “new coronavirus” or “novel coronavirus” unless needed to distinguish between viruses.
  • The term coronavirus is generally acceptable in references to the pandemic: coronavirus cases, coronavirus tests, coronavirus variants.
  • When referring specifically to the virus, the COVID-19 virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 are acceptable, as is simply the coronavirus.
  • Use the term COVID-19 when referring specifically to the disease: COVID-19 treatments, COVID-19 patients, COVID-19 deaths, recovering from COVID-19.
  • It’s not accurate to write a virus called COVID-19.
  • The shortened form COVID is acceptable if necessary for space in headlines, and in direct quotations and proper names.

How to use other terms

  • When using social distancing, don’t add quotation marks or hyphen. The shortened versions distancing or distanced are acceptable on second reference if clear in the context.
  • Superspreader is one word. It refers to an individual who spreads a virus or disease to an unusually large number of people, or a setting or event where an infection is spread to a large number of people.
  • Use variant or version to describe a new form of a virus. Avoid using the numbers given to variants such as B.1.1.7 for the one first found in Britain, as well as country labels like the South Africa variant (use the variant first detected in South Africa instead).
  • The terms immunization and vaccination can generally be used interchangeably. Don’t refer to a vaccine as a drug, medicine or serum.
  • Coronavirus vaccines are made in various ways. It’s not necessary to include the type of vaccine, unless relevant, in most stories. Use the manufacturer’s name if needed to distinguish between vaccines: Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Novavax, Sanofi, Sinopharm, Sinovac, CanSino and Johnson & Johnson (J&J on second reference).
  • Avoid saying a vaccine was approved, until full, final approval has been granted by a regulatory agency. Until then, the vaccines are still considered experimental. Describe them as authorized for emergency use; allowed for emergency use; given the green light, etc.
  • Do not use the term anti-vaxxer for someone who opposes vaccinations. If necessary in a direct quotation, explain it.

For more information, log in to the AP Stylebook Online.

Contact university communications

 

 

MSU staff members win CASE awards for publications, videos, events and design

by

Missouri State University staff members are the recipients of nine CASE District VI 2021 Institutional Awards. This includes two Grand Golds, the district’s highest honor.

CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, is a nonprofit that supports alumni relations, communications, development and marketing professionals at educational institutions worldwide.

MSU is in CASE District VI, which includes Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

These awards recognize work from this district that showcases best practices and builds strong relationships with alumni, donors, potential students and other constituencies.

MSU’s entries competed against a large field of more than 300 submissions, reviewed by more than 70 judges.

2021 awards

Grand Gold in Publications/Student Recruitment-Viewbooks and Prospectuses: Variable Data Viewbook

From the judges: “This is a fantastic example of customizing an experience based on a user. The writing and photography are also excellent. This is a game-changing concept with measurable outcomes, since the team can show a direct correlation to increase in web traffic when these publications were mailed.”

Front cover of variable data viewbook

Lead team members:

  • Veronica Adinegara, senior graphic designer, editorial and design services
  • Michelle S. Rose, assistant director of editorial, editorial and design services
  • Contributing photographer Kevin White, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Contributing photographer Jesse Scheve, photographer, office of visual media
  • Mark A. McCarty, manager of printing and postal services
  • Austin Hubbard, pre-press technician, printing and postal services
  • Julie C. Spinabella, administrative coordinator of data and communications
  • Benjamin P. Metzger, associate director of admissions/operations and systems

Grand Gold in Video/Fundraising-Short: Onward, Upward: The Campaign for Missouri State University

From the judges: “Excellent use of famous alum. Script was really good. Inspiring use of ‘Here come the Bears’ and transition to today’s campus.”

 

Lead team members:

  • Chris Nagle, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Kevin Agee, content strategist, university communications
  • Brent Dunn, vice president for university advancement
  • Suzanne Shaw, vice president for marketing and communications
  • Stephanie Smith, senior director of donor relations and special events

Additional support provided by the offices of development, university communications and visual media.

Gold in Special Events-Single Day: It’s ON — Missouri State University “Onward, Upward” Campaign Launch Event

From the judges: “THIS is how a successful campaign looks, feels and lives. The Missouri State University ‘Onward, Upward’ campaign is a gem on all accounts. Unique aspect of keeping a secret while also inspiring attendees to come. Great marketing materials. Outstanding work!”

Stage and auditorium full as streamers fly through air at It's On announcement.

Lead team member:

  • Stephanie Smith, senior director of donor relations and special events

Additional support from members of the offices of alumni relations, development and the Division of Marketing and Communications.

Gold in Video/PSAs and Commercial Spots: “This is the right place, this is the right time”

From the judges: “Well done. Great placement for a famous alumnus. Great messaging in the time constraints.”

Lead team members:

  • Chris Nagle, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Suzanne Shaw, vice president for marketing and communications
  • Bob Linder, former director, office of visual media
  • Kevin Agee, content strategist, university communications

Silver in Publications/Fundraising-Case Statements/General Cultivation Publications: Onward, Upward Master Case Statement

From the judges: “A comprehensive campaign case statement is a major undertaking, and this one is nicely done. The campaign name and the logo have great movement, and lots of possibilities. They carried this through with a compelling story.”

Case statement for the Onward Upward campaign.

Lead team members:

  • Amy Schuldt, assistant director of design, editorial and design services
  • Michelle S. Rose, assistant director of editorial, editorial and design services
  • Wendy Ferguson, executive director of development
  • Lauren Stockam, graduate assistant, university communications

Silver in Publications/Institutional Relations-Research Publications: 2019 Mind’s Eye

Cover of 2019 Mind's Eye, featuring Lisa Brescia in NYC's Times Square.

From the judges: “This publication is a great example of sharing research activities with excellent storytelling and readability.”

Lead team members:

  • Nicki Donnelson, assistant director, university communications
  • Teri Poindexter, graphic designer, editorial and design services
  • Contributing writers:
    • Andrea Mostyn, director of university communications
    • Emily Yeap, public relations specialist, university communications
    • Kevin Agee, content strategist, university communications
    • Graduate assistants Lauren Stockam and Tori York
    • Lucie Amberg, former strategic communications specialist for the Reynolds College of Arts and Letters
  • Contributing photographers:
    • Bob Linder, former director, office of visual media
    • Kevin White, assistant director, office of visual media
    • Jesse Scheve, photographer, office of visual media

Silver in Video on a Shoestring: “Better Than Ever”

From the judges: “Good energy. Student and alumni pride was clear.”

Lead team members:

  • Chris Nagle, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Kevin Agee, content strategist, university communications
  • Suzanne Shaw, vice president for marketing and communications
  • Clif Smart, university president

Silver in Video/Student Recruitment-Long: “Mind’s Eye: Putting it all out there”

 

Lead team members:

  • Nicki Donnelson, assistant director, university communications
  • Chris Nagle, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Kevin White, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Lisa Brescia, assistant professor, theatre and dance
  • Lucie Amberg, former strategic communications specialist for the Reynolds College of Arts and Letters

Bronze in Design for Publications (Multi-Page): 2019 Mind’s Eye

From the judges: “Very nice piece, whether in print or video. … This took a lot of coordinating and expense to create. Well-written and diverse selections for highlighted stories.”

Lead team members:

  • Nicki Donnelson, assistant director, university communications
  • Teri Poindexter, graphic designer, editorial and design services
  • Contributing photographers:
    • Bob Linder, former director, office of visual media
    • Kevin White, assistant director, office of visual media
    • Jesse Scheve, photographer, office of visual media