Our Mission

The mission of the Office of Public Affairs is to maintain and promote good relations between New College of Florida and its many constituents; enhance communications on campus among faculty, students and staff; serve as the primary point of contact for print and broadcast media; inform local, regional, and national audiences about the news, events, people and programs of the school; increase New College's national visibility and champion its liberal arts mission as the honors college for the state university system of Florida.

We're located adjacent to the Admissions Office on the historic bay front side of campus, just a few steps from College Hall. Use the buttons on the left to catch up on the latest news and events, and please email any questions to Director of Public Affairs Jake Hartvigsen at jhartvigsen@ncf.edu, Associate Director Linda Joffe (Marketing and Advertising) at ljoffe@ncf.edu, or Gregory Hite (College Events & Conferences Coordinator) ghite@ncf.edu

Our Public Responsibilities

As a public institution, New College of Florida is committed to providing timely and thorough responses to all requests for public documents or information and to answer all queries from the press.

As the central contact for print and broadcast media, the Public Affairs Office provides media with school news and statistics, photos and public documents, coordinates interviews, and connects reporters to the experts on campus best able to answer their questions. Meantime, the college’s open door policy respects and defends the right of news groups to come to campus at any time and speak to anyone. 

In an emergency, the Director of Public Affairs, or designate, is responsible for gathering and releasing information to the news media as quickly and as fully as possible. Natural disasters or other emergencies may require that the college set up a temporary communications command center as outlined in the college’s Emergency Response Plan. This plan details the step-by-step procedures for ensuring an orderly and accurate flow of information during a crisis.

Our Campus-wide Communications Role

The Office of Public Affairs is charged with college-wide communications and works closely with other offices on campus to provide coherent and consistent messages to all audiences. While respecting New College’s organizational values of decentralization and individual autonomy, Public Affairs confers regularly with the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, the New College Alumnae/i Association, New College Library Association and New College Foundation to assure integrated, coordinated, and mission-based communications and compliance with state rules and regulations.

News & Information

Active communications announcing the news, events, people and programs of the college are routinely distributed to internal and external audiences through the Office of Public Affairs.

Methods include:

• Press releases, announcements, and advisories - distributed to print and broadcast media, state and national representatives, the campus community and posted to the news & events pages of the college web site.

• Press kit - introductory set of literature providing basic institutional facts and information about the college.

• “Ask The Experts” media guide – annual guide to New College of Florida faculty sources offering expert analysis and commentary on a range of subjects and contemporary issues. The guide is also available on the web.

• Fast Facts – annual booklet providing a quick hit guide to the college, its history, academic program, tuition, faculty, location, facilities, Alumnae/i, Library Association, Foundation, a sampling of coverage in the college guides, contact information and map.

• Campus Map – updated as needed, with campus contact information and directions.

• Campus Phone Directory – annual phone directory to New College offices, faculty and staff. Distributed internally.

• Wallet Fact Card – fold-over business card containing bullet point college facts and contact information.

• New Faces – internal web-based communications introducing new staff members to the New College community with photo and contact information.

• Mailing Database – contact information for all groups New College communicates with. 

• “In The News” notices  - media clips emailed to campus community as they occur. Other articles of interest on state and national education issues made available to senior administrators and other information officers.

• “Uncommon Lives” brochure – promotional piece containing nine profiles of prominent alums describing “in their own words” their experiences at New College.

• Op-ed pieces – Public Affairs assists with preparation and placement of opinion pieces and guest columns from New College faculty experts concerning the news and issues of the day.

• “The Liberal Arts at New College: A Primer for New Students” brochure – overview of New College’s innovative educational approach. Written by President Michalson. Distributed to new students and other interested parties.

• Advertising and merchandising - coordinated through Public Affairs.

• New College Magazine – annual College magazine combining feature stories and interviews, College and alumni news and events, as well as updates and information from the New College Foundation, Alumnae/i Association, and Library Association.

• Community Outreach Report -- summary of activities and involvement of New College students, faculty and staff in the local community.

• News briefings and conferences – arranged to announce major college events.

• Media tours.

• Regular media contact  - Maintaining relationships through routine contact via phone, fax, email and face-to-face meetings.

• Web site – Maintain and update college web site, especially the news and events pages.

Campus Assistance Services

Assist faculty with proposing and editing opinion pieces for publication.

Assist faculty and staff with story ideas and judgments regarding news value.

Advise faculty and staff members regarding media interviews, and assist with compiling background and statistical information for faculty and staff interviews and presentations.

Assist student groups with publicity for student-led events.

Procedures

New College has stories to tell and benefits greatly from an engaged, forthright relationship with the media. Our philosophy is to maintain open, active communications on all matters of interest at New College – both good and bad – as we believe our credibility with the media is essential. It is also our view that our many constituencies, especially those the college calls upon for support, have a right to know what’s going on.

While reporters will generally contact Public Affairs since the office is best positioned to assist with news-gathering and arranging interviews with college personnel, faculty and staff may receive direct calls from the media. Public Affairs encourages direct contact as it enhances the college’s availability and openness, but requests that faculty and staff alert Public Affairs to direct calls so the office can stay informed and carry out any necessary follow-ups such as providing a photograph. 

Public Affairs also requests the cooperation of faculty and staff to alert the office to news, events and potential stories so the office may assist with preparing news releases and soliciting media coverage. The office does its best to stay abreast of all that is happening on campus, but appreciates faculty and staff assistance.

Requests from the media about students should be directed to the Public Affairs office as privacy rules may apply.

Requests for documents should be directed to the Public Affairs Office as public records rules may apply.

Requests regarding use of logos, campus photography, signs and other NCFemblems should be directed to the Public Affairs Office.

Any faculty or staff who are uncomfortable talking to reporters, please direct press inquires to the Public Affairs Office.

Interview Reminders

• Journalists work on deadline. Usually same-day, and sometimes even same-hour availability is needed to be included in most stories, particularly television stories.
• Be succinct. For a daily story, your 20-minute interview will likely turn into a few quotes in the newspaper or a brief TV spot. This is normal, and should be considered a success, not a failure. (If you feel you have been misquoted or your opinions mischaracterized, please contact Public Affairs).
• If for some reason, you feel you must make an “off the record” statement, please follow this rule: Your comment must be prefaced by some version of the statement, “The following is off the record…”, and the reporter must agree to those terms. Telling a reporter after the fact that what you just said was of the record will not be accepted. Unless clearly stated and agreed to, assume you are always on the record.
• Don’t expect to see a story before it is published. It’s possible you may be asked to review parts of a story in advance for accuracy – usually in highly technical or scientific stories – but the general rule is you won’t see it until it hits the page.
• Try to have some fun.