Effectively using newsletters and infographics
Isobel Breheny-Schafer explains the different uses of infographics.
By Joshua Pohl
The session “Telling your organization’s story – Using visual infographics and creating a newsletter,” was held in Gilbert Hall on Wednesday afternoon.
Several students learned how to use infographics and newsletters effectively. The session was taught by Stony Brook Universities Assistant Director of Student Media, Isobel Breheny-Schafer.
Schafer described her experiences with Stony Brook University’s newsletter, “The Statesman” where she serves as a general manager and explained why she feels all universities should consider creating a newsletter.
“It’s a way to target specific interests. If people are interested in radio, they can’t always listen, but they can read the newsletter to find out what they missed, or they can find a new program that they’d like to listen to or a new type of music,” Schafer said. “It builds community and it’s timely and it gets the information about feature articles out to people faster than them picking up newspapers.”
The newsletter can feature a variety of segments from music recommendations, upcoming events, featured partners, and much more. Schafer went on to explain that digital editions should also provide a way to unsubscribe to the newsletter and other links the student media outlet has.
Paige Drob from Michigan State University attended the session to bring back skills to her university’s newsletter staff.
“I am taking a bunch of notes out of everything I hear and trying to bring as much information back as possible and be that person where they can ask like, ‘Hey, what did you learn about this while you were there?’” Drob said. “So I’m trying to pay attention, take good notes, and bring it back home.”
As Schafer continued, she reviewed the importance of having one person in charge of being the final say before a newsletter is released. A final set of eyes ensures a last look-over is made for content, copy editing and design.
In common with a newspaper, she spoke on the necessity of deadlines and a solid timeline. Both require a strict due date to be successful and contain up-to-date information inside.
Caitlin Myers from Slippery Rock University shared her takeaways on the use of newsletters.
“I think there is potential for newsletters because if we’re doing print editions we think that’s enough outreach. I think it’s fascinating to think that we all get a million emails a day, but we all look at them anyway,” Myers said. “So I think this could be like another opportunity to reach like a wider population on campus and that it could be beneficial for the paper overall.”
Schafer concluded the presentation with a focus on infographics reviewing the several uses they have, such as raising funds, recruitment, and getting people to apply for contests.
Schafer’s main takeaway for the session was that by using newsletters and infographics you can reach wide audiences while providing multiple ways of consuming news outside of a regular newspaper and radio station that someone may miss.