January was an exceptionally busy month for coverage of the University of Glasgow in the media.  In the UK alone, the University featured in 352 clips reaching a potential circulation audience of more than 375 million, with an advertising value of almost £2 million. In addition to print, a lot of focus was placed on securing prominent broadcast coverage on programmes such as Good Morning Scotland on BBC Radio, Reporting Scotland, Scotland Today and Newsnight. 

Some of the stories that Corporate Communications were proactively involved with made quite a splash. Professor Pat Monaghan’s research into the length of specialised pieces of DNA which can be an indicator of how long individuals will live featured in 33 different articles across print, TV, radio and online. Dr Paul Shiel’s study into how the health of Glasgow’s most deprived residents could be impaired before they are even born, was picked up by 17 publications – including editorials in both the Herald and the Scotsman and an appearance on Newsnight Scotland.  There was excellent coverage of the world’s smallest Chinese New Year Card, from the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre, a lot of exposure for the Centre for Robert Burns Studies across a host of print, broadcast and online media to coincide with the Bard’s birthday, and coverage too of fascinating archives that have emerged from a study conducted into urban life in Glasgow and elsewhere in the 1960’s. 

Lord Wallace of TankernessThe University of Glasgow was the focus of widespread interest from throughout the UK as the Advocate General Lord Wallace of Tankerness delivered a lecture on Scotland’s Constitutional Future.  Colleagues across the university have also been asked to provide expert comment on legal, economic and defence questions relating to the independence debate.

There were also calls for opinion and comment on everything from the US Presidential Election to the role of the humble apostrophe – leading to a fascinating slot for Professor Jeremy Smith on STV’s Scotland Tonight.   

February looks like being an equally busy month, with a number of stories planned, including a BBC TV feature on the Centre for Textile Conservation. But Corporate Communications is always keen to hear from colleagues who might be working on something that could be of interest to the media, who have expertise on a particular area or topic or who just want to chat about how to deal with reporters and editors. Give us a call on 0141 330 3535 or email the Media Relations Manager, peter.aitchison@glasgow.ac.uk.

First published: 2 February 2012

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