Requesting NIAID's Help on Issuing News Releases

Purpose

To request NIAID's help with preparing and disseminating news releases about research advances made under an Institute-funded grant.

Procedure

Investigators who want to publicize their noteworthy research findings through an NIAID news release can work with staff in the Office of Communications and Government Relations (OCGR).

Staff in OCGR can write a draft, ensure review and approval, distribute to the media, and post on the NIAID Web site. OCGR staff will coordinate these activities with the media relations office at an investigator's institution.

Investigators

• Notify your program officer that you would like to work with NIAID on issuing a news release.
• You or your program officer should then contact the NIAID Media Coordinator with your suggestion for a news release.
  • For a research paper scheduled to appear in a scientific journal, allow at least two weeks before the paper's publication date for OCGR to prepare the news release.

Program Officers

• If investigators contact you requesting that NIAID issue a news release on their behalf, get concurrence from your OCGR liaison, then refer investigators to the NIAID Media Coordinator.
• If universities or other organizations contact you about reviewing or approving one of their news releases, follow the procedure in the OCGR SOP Handling Requests to Review Non-NIAID News Releases.

Office of Communications and Government Relations Staff

• Work with investigators to determine key points about their research advance that should be included in the news release.
• Coordinate with other NIAID offices, NIH components, and outside organizations to gather information on the research advance.
• Write a draft of the release and work with investigators, OCGR staff, and NIAID program staff to refine it until you reach a final draft.
  • Ensure that NIAID's Office of the Director and the NIH and HHS communications offices review the release. Revise the draft as necessary.
• Inform investigators and institutions' media relations office of the projected distribution date.
• Distribute the final release to the appropriate media and constituent lists.
• Post release on News Releases and Statements and other appropriate pages of the NIAID Web site.

Contacts

NIAID Media Coordinator, OCGR -- Laurie Doepel, ldoepel@niaid.nih.gov, 301-496-5717

Divisions' OCGR Liaisons

DAIDS -- Staff Only Contact

DAIT -- Staff Only Contact

DMID -- Staff Only Contact

If you have knowledge to share or want more information on this topic, email deaweb@niaid.nih.gov with the title of this page or its URL and your question or comment. Thanks for helping us clarify and expand our knowledge base.

Links

Requesting NIAID News Releases