What kind of news is published in MATC Matters?
We publish most messages that you need to communicate to a large number of employees at MATC, such as:
- announcements about upcoming MATC events
- notices about meetings, organizations, clubs, or local educational activities
- institutional-related news, hiring updates, job openings, kudos, etc.
- tips and info for fellow MATC employees (technology, health, safety, staff development, etc.)
- links to other online news sites in which MATC makes the headlines
- updates from committees or departments
Other kinds of news that the staff of Communications and the Office of President develop and publish are:
- feature stories, showcasing the accomplishments or projects of MATC faculty, staff or students.
- regular messages from Presiden Barhorst
- employee spotlights
- updates about Wisconsin legislation that affects MATC return to top
How can I submit news to MATC Matters?
MATC employees can use the online submission form to submit news items for publication in MATC Matters. The form allows you to enter your name and contact information as well as the content and desired publication date of your news or announcement. After you submit the form, your submission is sent via email directly to the editors of MATC Matters. The edtiors will process your request and post your news online within two working days. return to top
How long will it take for the editors to publish my submission?
We do everything possible to post your submission online within two working days. Often, we can do it in less time. We suggest you submit your news item well in advance of your desired publication date. If you have specific guidelines about publication dates (i.e., don't publish before a certain date), you can make note of this in the comment field of the submission form.
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Will my submission be edited?
The editors of MATC Matters may edit your annoucement/news item for clarity or grammar. We may follow up with a phone call or email to get more information from you, too. If we find that the submission is inappropriate for MATC Matters, we will let you know and suggest an alternative communication avenue for your submission. return to top
I already have news or information posted on my own department/unit/committee/group website. Can MATC Matters just link to my site?
Yes, we encourage you to post information on your own sites, if you have a site and the web skills to do so. If you'd like us to link to your site, use the submission form to send us the link to the page on your site where information resides. We'll link directly to your site, rather than including a separate news item in MATC Matters. return to top
What if I have an idea for a longer feature story, but can't write it myself?
Send us an email at matcmatters@matcmadison.edu to let us know your idea! We love to hear from employees who know about newsworthy things we don't know about. Let us know what your department or students are doing! MATC Matters can help you get the word out. If possible, we will work with you to get details so we can write a feature story based on your suggestion. return to top
Can I submit photos for publication on MATC Matters?
Yes, we encourage you to submit photos along with your news items, although it is not required. You can upload photos to the submission form. Also, you can submit photos without accompanying stories for our "Featured Photo" section (see the upper right hand corner of the front page). The Featured Photo section is intended to display a wide diversity of photos that represent all the MATC locations, employees, activities and events. Use the submission form to send us your jpgs and gifs! return to top
I don't see my headline on the front page anymore! Where did it go?
After a headline "rolls" off the front page, it goes to the archive page. Only the most recent headlines in each news section appear on the front page. But all of the news is archived so you can browse past headlines that no longer appear on the front page. Since some headlines roll off the front page faster than others, you should determine the most timely publication date for your news item. You might also consider publishing your item a few times, especially if your news item relates to an upcoming event or deadline. (Consider posting a "reminder" the day before the event, for example.) return to top
What about the Staff Bulletin and On The Move?
On the Move (an MATC print newsletter) is no longer being published. MATC Matters is replacing both On the Move and the Staff Bulletin. Rather than being published once a week, like the Staff Bulletin, MATC Matters is published live online every day. MATC continues to publish a quarterly print newsletter called Profiles for alumni and friends of MATC. return to top
Why should I submit my news or announcement to MATC Matters when I can simply mass email it (via GW_All) to the entire college?
Recent surveys we conducted suggest that MATC employees are overloaded with email and would rather go to an online location to get news and announcements. Consider the following survey results (survey conducted by Communications in January 2005):
- 69% of MATC employees read GW_All messages only "occasionally"
- 5% read GW_All messages "rarely."
- only 26% of MATC employees say they read every GW_All message they receive.
- 50% of MATC employees chose the web as their preferred vehicle for receiving MATC news and announcements.
- 79% said they would be willing to visit an online newspage (such as MATC Matters) on a weekly or daily basis. return to top
I notice that the Library has it's own news section right on the front page. How do I get an entire section for my group or department?
The current news sections were created based on the kinds of news items that were being published in the Staff Bulletin. In other words, MATC Matters was made to accomodate the current communication needs and habits of groups within the college. However, if you think you have enough news to fill an entire news section on a constant basis, contact us and we'll determine how to best meet your communication needs. MATC Matters will adapt right along with the communication needs and habits of the college. return to top
How did MATC Matters come about?
Communications, the department that produces MATC Matters, is part of Strategic Effectiveness, headed by Vice President Rebecca Baumbach. One mission of Strategic Effectiveness is to improve communications at the college. In it's current 3 year unit plan, Strategic Effectiveness has identified the need to improve the flow of information among MATC’s employees, so they can be better informed about news relevant and important to them as well as themes and information important to the institution. In order to achieve this goal, Strategic Effectiveness aims to:
- produce systems, events, publications, web information or other evidence of new communication exchanges
- Improved PACE scores related to internal communications.
- Raise level of employee satisfaction with internal communications return to top
Who do I contact with further questions?
Email us at matcmatters@matcmadison.edu or use the comments section at the bottom of our online form. You can also call Robin Gee at 608-243-4378.
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