A new Media Ambassadors Program is helping connect UO faculty members to journalists looking for expert views, part of a university effort to elevate academic research and faculty expertise on national and international stages.

With the help of a brand-new, reimagined website, the program gives the UO a new way to show how faculty expertise fits into larger conversations that are often in the news. Using listed and searchable topics, journalists can easily find academics whose knowledge would be valuable in upcoming stories.

Profiles include contact information, links to websites and recent media appearances. The list currently includes 28 faculty members and will expand to more than 70 in the coming weeks.

But faculty don’t need to be media ambassadors for the university to promote their work to reporters and commentators.

The university’s public affairs communications staff will continue to promote stories and research from across the schools and colleges. Those who would like to lend their expertise to help illuminate a story or topic in the news can email experts@uoregon.edu.

A comprehensive media training session will be available for faculty and staff. It will cover all forms of media, including broadcast, print and op-eds. Email invitations will be sent in the coming weeks, and the first sessions will be held in July with another opportunity during the following academic year.

For more information on the Media Ambassadors Program, email Molly Blancett at blancett@uoregon.edu or call 541-346-9134.