How can I get a story about my work out to the media? Is there a promotional video for the University that I can use in a presentation? How do I get advice on hosting a special event on campus? The answers to these questions and more are now available on York’s new University Relations Division website, which launched this week.
The new website brings together all of the services offered by the division into one easy-to-navigate format. The site is also home to a sparkling new video about the University.
“It’s a pleasure to announce the launch of the University Relations’ new divisional website,” says Jennifer Sloan (right), York’s vice-president university relations. “It is a first for the division. The site boasts York’s new promotional video – ‘Welcome to York University’ – clocking in at two minutes and 40 seconds.”
The new video showcases York University, including its research and program strengths, its valued alumni and a vivid representation of the University’s interdisciplinary positioning.
“I’m a firm believer that video content is an essential component if we are going to successfully communicate a meaningful understanding of York’s scope and excellence,” says Sloan.
Created to be viewed by a general audience, the video provides a quick and meaningful understanding of the power and potential of York University. Faculty and staff are encouraged to make use of the video as an introduction to presentations they make to internal or external audiences. (To obtain a copy of the video, contact the Account Direction Department in University Relations.)
The “Welcome to York University” video is also available on York University’s new YouTube channel, which is also home to more videos about the University and its community.
Designed to be a one-stop shop for all of York’s communications needs, the new website features single-click navigation to key information for external stakeholders and internal York communicators. It offers an example of best practices in terms of design and function and is in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
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On the right-hand side of the website is a section titled “For the Media” and, below that, “For University Communicators”. The site was designed with two key audiences in mind: York’s internal communicators (featuring information on such things as photography and video services, along with identity standards and guidelines) as well as the media (featuring news releases, a media guide, recent media coverage etc.). The site features one-click navigation that takes users directly to the information or contact people they need.
Other features include late breaking news headlines and an easy-to-use story idea submission form for getting topics to the editorial desks of YFile, Ylife and YorkU magazine, as well as to Media Relations. There are also handy information sheets on privacy, web standards, photography and more.
Along the top right of the site, one-click buttons take users to York’s Facebook and Twitter sites and the YouTube channel. Across the bottom of the website, a standing menu offers links to all of the departments within the division – Alumni & Advancement Services, Government Relations, Marketing & Communications, Media Relations, and University Events & Community Relations.
“University Relations is excited by these new developments and I would like to thank all who worked with us collaboratively – the Strategic Communications Council, deans and others – to help us come up with the current design and content,” says Sloan. “We think it’s a success and hope you do too. We welcome any comments you might have. We will also be testing the site’s performance, using analytics, as well as surveying individual users for their input and further refinements.”
To learn more, visit the new University Relations website.