Our Services

As part of Boston University’s Marketing & Communications, Public Relations works closely with BU’s faculty, students, staff, alumni, and administration to develop communication strategies for the distribution of content, expertise, and faculty research through local, national, and international news media as well as via online social networks.

Public Relations will work with individual faculty, University schools and colleges, and institutes and centers to build a strategic communications plan to increase awareness and visibility of your research, expertise, accomplishments, and mission. Some strategic communication elements include:

News Releases

Public Relations formulates and distributes news releases electronically to members of the news media. Releases are also archived on the Public Relations website.

Hometown News

Notice of a student’s graduation (degrees, majors, and any Latin honors) and appointment to the Dean’s List will be sent to his or her hometown or community newspaper by the Department of Public Relations. The newspaper(s) selected are those whose readership area includes the zip code of your official home address listed with the Office of the University Registrar. More

Staff and Contact Info

Tom Testa
Assistant Vice President, Public Relations
Office: 617-353-7628; Mobile: 617-959-3887; Email: ttesta@bu.edu

Colin Riley
Executive Director, Media Relations
Office: 617-353-5386; Mobile: 617-293-1543; Email: criley@bu.edu

Mary Tunney
Director, Public Relations
Office: 617-353-4198; Mobile: 617-792-2987; Email: mtunney@bu.edu
Twitter

Richard Taffe
Senior Media Relations Associate
Office: 617-353-4626; Mobile: 617-293-4082; Email: rtaffe@bu.edu
LinkedIn

Kira Jastive
Senior Public Relations Associate
Office: 617-358-1240; Mobile: 857-207-2430; Email: kjastive@bu.edu
Twitter

Stacy Roberts
Public Relations Associate
Office: 617-358-1688; Mobile: 617-999-0005; Email: stacyr@bu.edu

Jo Breiner
Research Associate, Public Relations
Office: 617-358-4266; Email: jbreiner@bu.edu

Jenny Mackintosh
Public Relations Assistant
Office: 617-353-6546; Mobile 617-599-9101; Email: jemack@bu.edu
Twitter | Website

Lauren Domingos
Public Relations Associate
Office: 617-358-1688; Mobile: 617-981-9459; Email: ldomingo@bu.edu
Facebook | LinkedIn

Other Important University Contacts

Content Sharing

Public Relations is available to help faculty members develop and share content across a variety of social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, UStream, and BUniverse.

If you have multimedia content (such as videos, photos, and audio clips) from an event, class, your research, or other activities, contact Public Relations to see how we can help you maximize exposure.

We can also assist with the production of certain types of content.

Broadcast Studio

Administrators, faculty, and other members of the BU community can share their expertise with local, national, and international news organizations via BU’s on-campus studio facility, available for live or pre-taped television and radio interviews. Contact us for video conference requests and video production needs.

Booking

To book the Broadcast Studio for a radio or television interview, please contact your Boston University public relations representative. If you are not already working with a staff member, please contact Mary Tunney, Director of Public Relations, at 617-353-4198, 617-792-2987, or mtunney@bu.edu.

If you are unable to reach individual members of the PR staff, please call the Public Relations main number at 617-353-2240.

Location & Parking

The Broadcast Studio is located at One Silber Way, 8th floor, room 814. Please take the WEST elevators to the 8th floor. Upon entering reception, take a right. The studio is down the hall on the right, room 814. Your Public Relations representative will meet you at the studio.

If you need to access the studio after normal business hours (including weekends), your PR representative will arrange to meet you in the lobby of One Silber Way, as the 8th floor is locked.

Metered parking spots are available along Commonwealth Ave., Silber, Way, and Bay State Road. If you have a guest or permit pass for the parking lot located at 595 Commonwealth Ave, please use the WEST entrance and take the elevator to the 8th floor.

For assistance, call the Public Relations office at 617-353-2240.

Event Publicity Guidelines

In order for Public Relations to efficiently and accurately publicize on-campus events that are open to the public, staff members need to have all finalized event materials at least 8 weeks before the event. Materials should list the event title, date, time, location, admission cost, and contact information.

Public Relations also encourages members of the BU community to list their events on the following local event listing websites:

Boston.com
WBUR.com
Fenway News
Inside Higher Education
BU Calendar

Please contact Public Relations with questions at 617-353-2240 or eventpublicity@bu.edu.

Social Media Guidelines

Social media brand guidelines and “themes” are available for download. Here you will find guidelines for Facebook profile pictures, Twitter avatars, and Twitter background images.

http://www.bu.edu/brand/websites/socialmedia/

Media Training

Whether it’s print, television, or radio, the PR staff can help you prepare for all media interactions. Training is available for individuals and small groups. Please contact Mary Tunney, Director of Public Relations, at 617-353-4198, 617-792-2987, or mtunney@bu.edu to schedule a session at our on-campus broadcast studio.

Op-ed and Commentary Assistance

A seasoned editor is available to help shape and pitch faculty-written op-ed/commentary pieces to appropriate publications. Outlets generally consider offerings of up to about 700 words clearly articulating a thought-provoking point of view on (or useful explanation of) a timely subject within your realm of expertise. For assistance, please contact Dick Taffe, Senior Media Relations Associate, at 617-353-4626 or rtaffe@bu.edu.

Join the Experts Program

Public Relations is the principal link between Boston University and the regional, national, and international news media. The PR team works proactively to link Boston University faculty members with stories in the news that fall within their area of focus. Faculty members serve as expert sources to journalists who are looking for commentary and analysis on a specific news-making topic.

If you are a member of the BU faculty who is interested in joining the experts program, please contact a member of the Public Relations team who will help you get started.

Media Coverage Metrics

Do you need to track media coverage or conversations taking place on social networks about your school’s departments, experts, programs, or centers and institutes? Public Relations can help. We closely monitor traditional/mainstream print, online and broadcast media, and social networks by using a variety of search engines, online database services, and Internet-based news aggregates. Reports that track distribution of coverage are available upon request. Please contact Jo Breiner for additional information.