Media Relations at UW-Madison: Year in Review

University Communications (UC) has released more than 700 stories this year promoting the ideas, expertise, discoveries and accomplishments of UW–Madison people and programs. This production is instrumental to reinforcing, through the media, UW–Madison’s profoundly strong image and reputation across the world.

This month-by-month snapshot shows how the UC media team and its colleagues in the schools and colleges drive significant media exposure at the state, national and international levels. Writers work to identify and produce stories that have major media potential and the photography and design teams bring visual power to the stories.

The office uses the most influential tools in the news industry to disseminate and promote news, but many stories get coverage through active pitches and strong relationship-building with reporters, editors and news directors.

While advancing UW–Madison’s stellar reputation is the top goal, the work also brings much-deserved recognition to many of the university’s top scholars for their contributions in the public interest.

The following review covers November 2007 to October 2008, and includes only stories triggered by UW–Madison news releases.

November 2007

• Earning James Thomson and Junying Yu “People of the Year” honors in Time, the discovery of how to genetically reprogram human skin cells to create cells indistinguishable from embryonic stem cells generated international acclaim. Among the hundreds of stories on this landmark development were pieces in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Times UK, USA Today and U.S. News and World Report.
• News of the unprecedented $85 million in donations to the Wisconsin School of Business, in exchange for keeping the “Wisconsin” name, received equally unprecedented media attention for the school, not only about the size of the gift but the larger strategy behind the “non-naming” opportunity. Articles appeared in CBS News, CNN, China Daily News and BusinessWeek. The story inspired a column in The New York Times titled “The Graffitti of the Philanthropic Class.”
• A story on computer scientist Paul Barford‘s work on new programs for attacking malicious traffic on the Internet was picked up by The Chronicle of Higher Education, PC World and the Wisconsin State Journal (WSJ).
• As a Hollywood depiction of “Beowulf” hit theaters nationally, UC promoted a UW connection to the epic tale. Medievalist John Niles‘ perspectives were featured by the Associated Press and ran in papers across the country.
• A story on the global health implications of climate change established by environmental studies professor Jon Patz led to stories in The New York Times, Reuters and many other venues.
• With an answer to the question “Why does the Mississippi River flow south?” UC penned its 100th “Curiosities” column for the Wisconsin State Journal’s weekly Thursday feature. Since launching the feature in January 2006, UC has added it to its own mix of online content on the UW news pages.

December 2007

•  A feature story on anthropologist Kirin Narayon‘s book “My Family and Other Saints” caught the attention of The New York Times Book Review and The Washington Post.
• Educational psychologist Robert Enright, a world leader in cultivating the science of forgiveness, is profiled in the Wisconsin Idea Project for his groundbreaking work in Milwaukee and Northern Ireland. His work received another wave of coverage, including the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Sydney Morning Herald, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and The San Diego Union-Tribune.
• Engineer and biofuels expert James Dumesic was named one of Scientific American’s top 50 up-and-coming scientists. Dumesic’s groundbreaking work has appeared in Scientific American, Science and WSJ.
• Anthropologist John Hawks‘ counterintuitive discovery that modern humans are actually evolving at a breakneck pace received coverage from the Toronto Star, The Sydney Morning Herald, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Archaeology Magazine and others.
• Real estate professor Morris Davis, one of the nation’s leading experts on the housing economy, testified before the U.S. Senate on home prices and the broader economy. UC’s promotional work helped propel Davis’ national visibility, with coverage appearing in The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, The Economist, Bloomberg News and others.
• The discovery by James Ntambi of a genetic explanation for the link between obesity and high-fructose corn syrup was covered by Scientific American and the Toronto Star.

January 2008

• A story about virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka‘s work showing how the ebola virus could be genetically disarmed received extensive coverage, including BBC News, The Times UK, The Australian, Nature and AFP.

• A story on the work of sleep researcher Chiara Cirelli, illustrating the vital importance of sleep to normal brain function and cognition, led to coverage in United Press International and The New York Times.
• A  feature on political scientist Kenneth Goldstein‘s book “Campaign Advertising and American Democracy” received recognition in The Providence Journal and WSJ.
• A study by Bret Shaw demonstrating how online prayer groups can make a physiological impact on the cancer recovery process received media pickup from WISC-TV, Reuters Health and WSJ.

February 2008

• Political scientist Kenneth Goldstein‘s Wisconsin Advertising Project, which analyzed ad spending throughout the presidential campaign, was a public affairs juggernaut throughout 2008. UC reported and distributed project results on six separate occasions this year, helping generate more than 100 national news stories.
• Journalism professor Dietram Scheufele‘s work focusing on America’s moral perceptions of nanotechnology was picked up by The Wall Street Journal and The Christian Post.
•  Work by engineer Alfonso Gutierrez on a novel use for radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology — tracking the nation’s blood supply — received coverage in PC World and RFID Industry Update.
• Historian Alfred McCoy received Oscar buzz for his major scholarly contribution to the Academy Award-nominated documentary “Taxi to the Dark Side.” The filmmakers used material extensively from McCoy’s book “A Question of Torture,” which looks at practices of psychological torture in post-WWII CIA history. McCoy was featured on WNBC-15, Isthmus and others.

March 2008

• Psychologist Richard Davidson‘s work in affective neuroscience continues to take on compelling new dimensions. His latest work demonstrating how compassion meditation can influence brain function received exposure in U.S. News and World Report, Scientific American, Newsweek, BBC News and an interview with Sanjay Gupta on CNN.
• Is Michelangelo’s David stressed out? Engineer Vadim Shapiro demonstrated weak points and fissures in the famous statue using a novel technology called “scan and solve.” The report appeared in the Telegraph (UK), The Guardian (UK) and United Press International. 
• A study by environmental scientist Chris Kucharik showing how intensified farming for biofuels could contribute to the Gulf of Mexico’s “dead zone” generated stories in Time, CBC News (Canada) and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Could swarms of Icelandic midges tell a story about environmental degradation? Scientist Anthony Ives developed a model showing that midge populations are vulnerable to even slight tweaks in their environment. The New York Times explored the story.
• Climatologist Eric DeWeaver made big contributions to the decision over classifying the polar bear as an endangered species. The modeling work was covered by WSJ, Wisconsin Radio Network and the Capital Times (CT).

April 2008

• Microsoft launches a research-and-development venture in Madison, thanks to its stellar research collaboration with computer scientist Dave Dewitt. The story appeared in Information Week, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, CT, Techworld (UK), ComputerWorld, the Redmond Report and others. It generated favorable editorials from WSJ, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Wisconsin Technology Network.
• A Wisconsin Idea profile on engineering and textiles professor Majid Sarmadi, who is creating more eco-friendly approaches to chemistry-dependent materials like carpeting, had his work featured in Madison magazine and WSJ.
• The taping of an episode of “Jeopardy!” at UW–Madison’s Kohl Center generated thousands of spectators and captured the attention of media, who profiled UW–Madison contestant Suchita Shah and the general excitement of the visit. Stories appeared in India Abroad, WSJ, NBC-15, Wisconsin Radio Network and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• “Life During Wartime,” a federal project to invigorate history teaching and learning in Wisconsin spearheaded by historian Jeremi Suri, received significant coverage during a press briefing at the Wisconsin Veteran’s Museum, including Wisconsin Radio Network, WSJ and CT.
• The Office of Corporate Relations‘ entrepreneurial challenge — asking students to create something useful with $10 in surplus property — received attention from business media at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WSJ, CT and had added legs through this video.

May 2008

• Capping a four-month national search, the UW System’s hiring of Carolyn “Biddy” Martin as UW–Madison’s next chancellor received a wide range of coverage both immediately and through the summer. UC facilitated a teleconference covered by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Chronicle of Higher Education, WISC-3, CT and the Wisconsin Radio Network. UC also produced a comprehensive Web site and a same-day column of impressions from UW staff who met Martin. UC sought a wide range of input on the search with a series focusing on campus priorities, state relations and diversity.
• A study by Evan Amato showing that severe African dust storms can weaken Atlantic hurricanes by keeping water temperatures cooler received coverage in Voice of America, Popular Mechanics, United Press International and ABC News.
• In its May “Brilliant Issue,” Conde Nast Portfolio named stem cell pioneer James Thomson one of its “game changers” for his landmark work on coaxing adult stem cells into their original blank-slate status — furthering the global accolades Thomson received for the discovery.

June 2008

• News from the lab of Tomas Prolla that red wine, in moderation, can increase natural anti-aging compounds in the body received worldwide coverage in the health media, including stories in ABC News, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, USA Today and BBC News.
• Psychologist Craig Berridge helped shed light on the Ritalin paradox by revealing how the stimulant boosts focus and cognition. The story was covered in Reuters, Scientific American, Popular Science and Scientist Live.
• Academic research misconduct may be more widespread than previously believed, according to a study by James Wells in the Graduate School. Coverage of the national study appeared in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Reuters, The Vancouver Sun and Bloomberg News.  
• A Wisconsin Idea profile exploring a novel partnership between UW polymer engineer Tim Osswald and a Wisconsin company to build an airless tire for the military was featured in Scientific American, CNet News and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Geologist Shanan Peter‘s finding that the ebb and flow of Earth’s oceans were major drivers of extinction events, including dinosaurs, received coverage in AFP (France), U.S. News and World Report, The Independent (UK) and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
• Geologist John Valley‘s study of billion-year-old zircons suggesting that past harsh climates savaged the Earth’s surface received coverage in United Press International and The New York Times.

July 2008

•  A report by psychologist Janet Hyde demolished conventional wisdom about an achievement gap between girls and boys in mathematics — and became UW–Madison’s most widely covered story of 2008. Stories appeared in USA Today, NBC Nightly News, ABC News, The New York Times, Reuters, the Chicago Tribune and hundreds of papers nationally through the Associated Press.
• Virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka‘s discovery of the genes responsible for influenza’s ability to spread quickly received coverage in United Press International, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and CT.
• A historical cache of college humor magazines on display at UW–Madison and managed by Special Collections received national attention through a feature by Associated Press.
• A Curiosities feature on entomologist Susan Paskewitz explaining why some folks make more attractive targets for mosquitoes went from the WSJ to national coverage in The New York Times, Newsweek and others. 

August 2008

• A series of editorial board visits by Chancellor Carolyn “Biddy” Martin paid dividends in the opening weeks of her tenure, giving the public a window into her style and priorities. It also generated some welcoming and encouraging editorials from WSJ, CT (including video clips), the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and WisBusiness.com. The Associated Press also produced an executive profile of Martin that appeared in news outlets throughout the Midwest.
• University Research Park Director Mark Bugher announces a plan to sink roots in downtown Madison with an innovative urban incubator designed for high-tech companies. A press conference on the development was covered by WSJ, CT, WisBusiness.com, Wisconsin Radio Network, Channel 3 and Channel 27.
•  Faced with growing concerns from development and stormwater problems, botany professor Joy Zedler enlisted the help of University Communications to develop greater public awareness of the problems facing the UW Arboretum. In-depth stories appeared in WSJ and CT, helping frame issues for public input.
• A study by evolutionary biologist Sean Carroll helped explain the origin of manes, antlers, plumes and other peculiar male traits in the animal kingdom. The story was covered by WSJ and CT.
• Engineer Mike Oliva‘s expertise on bridge construction and safety was in heavy demand after a report assessing bridge safety nationwide. Oliva was quoted in the Associated Press, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin Radio Network. Oliva was also the subject of a Wisconsin Idea profile and video exploring safer bridge technology.

September 2008

• The inaugural “Big Ten Battleground Poll,” a partnership between political scientists Ken Goldstein and Charles Franklin and the Big Ten Network, generated extensive coverage from media covering the presidential campaign during September and October polls. This archive captures more than 50 stories from national media about the poll results. A television program on the poll became the first nonsports program ever to run during prime time on BTN.
• UW-Madison’s role in the massive atom-smasher experiment in Switzerland received recognition statewide through interviews with physicists Wesley Smith, Sau Lan Wu and Terry Millar. Stories appeared in WSJ, CT, Wisconsin Radio Network, Channel 3 and Channel 15. It was the summer 2008 cover story in On Wisconsin.
• A study by climate researcher James Kossin showing a link between warming Atlantic ocean temperatures and stronger hurricanes has strong repercussions for global warming. Stories appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, Science News, Science Now and CT.
• Geologist Anders Carlson led a study shedding new light on how much the receding glaciers could contribute to rising sea levels. The report was covered by USA Today, Discovery Channel, Scientific American, AFP and The Guardian (UK). 

October 2008

•  UC made aggressive efforts throughout the presidential campaign to highlight the diverse political expertise among UW–Madison faculty. Those efforts continue to pay off with hundreds of stories across the state, nation and world, as this clipsheet archive reveals. 
• The severe global economic downturn also prompted UC to promote more than two dozen faculty experts on a wide range of issues ailing the economy. Experts appeared in Wisconsin Radio Network, WISC-3, CNN, BusinessWeek, Reuters, WSJ, The Wall Street Journal and others.
• Research led by physiology professor Dongsheng Cai illustrating a new brain pathway that appears to control appetite has major implications for obesity and diet. The story appeared in BBC News, Reuters and CT. 
• A study by German professor Joseph Salmons revealing that early immigrants weren’t so quick to adopt English has major implications on the current political climate surrounding immigration. The story was covered by The Arizona Republic, The Toronto Star, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, CT and United Press International.