Our new CLAS sites feature dedicated sections news, spotlight, and events. Here’s a helpful break down on what they are and how to use them effectively.
Events
An event is neither an article or a story but rather a listing. All events should be first listed at events.wayne.edu and shared to your department calendar. Event listings can then be supported with a news article to give more context or tell a broader story around the event designed to help promote it and encourage attendance.
A good event listing should include a summary of the event in the description field, and the basics (who/what/when/where/why) along with a contact phone/email for more information. This is a not a story but should cover the basics of what an attendee should expect, bring, and be prepared for.
Appropriate event listing content (for the description field):
- Program agenda (ex: Rushton Conference)
- Abstract summary
- Bio/intro of speaker(s), topic introduction (ex: Brown Bag Seminar, Knowledge on Tap)
- Links to download supplemental info, i.e. flyer (ex: Thesis Competition)
News
A news article is one that answers who/what/when/where/why/how in the opening and generally just reports what has taken place. Also known as “hard news,” it’s written in such a way that the reader can stop reading at any time, and still come away with the whole story.
A feature news article (also known as “soft news”) is a profile story that goes a little deeper focusing on a specific person, or a specific angle or aspect of an event. The story provides some in-depth focus on what’s important or interesting about the subject whereas the news article generally just reports what took place.
If you’re confused, just stick with the standard news article: who/what/when/where/why/how.
Possible topics
- Faculty and students working in the community (urban research)
- Students interning with noteworthy organizations
- Unique or timely research
- Awards/grants
- Book announcements
Sample news articles
- Anthropology students dig into Hamtramck’s past
- News story with quotes: WSU students and faculty share their favorite Shakespeare quotes, works and moments
- Book announcement:
Professor Nadejda Marinova publishes new book on transnationalism and foreign policy - Feature news: Department of African American Studies celebrates 45th anniversary
- Internal news: Dr. Jeffery Kentor to serve as chair of Wayne State University’s Department of Sociology
Spotlights
A spotlight is an article that features a story or biography profile (e.g. getting to know M. Roy Wilson) that’s evergreen (not time dependent, long shelf life) and generally focuses on the human-interest element, as opposed to an event, for example.
Spotlights can include stories on faculty, staff, advisors, or programs but are preferred to be student/alumni-centered where prospective students can “see themselves” at Wayne State.
Possible topics
- Student community impact
- Getting to know {student name}
- Student research
- Alumni check-in
- Student Q&A
Sample spotlights
- Abbass Berjaoui helping Detroit overcome health disparities
- Student research: From Puerto Rico to Detroit: Orlando Rios finds his research home
- Student research: Environmental sciences student researches Great Lakes waterways
- Global studies student hopes to help Detroit with technology
- Alumni check-in: Alumnus James Prochaska is a change maker
Tip: When writing an article (and whenever possible and appropriate) always hyperlink to important references in the body of the page, such as the organization (of the story), a link to the online grant, or an important element of the story.
Example: National Institutes of Health grant GM124733.
Example: As for Ozanich, she is currently interning for the Visitor Experience team at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores.