Publicity and Media

2006 Executive Council Input

Director of Publicity and Media

Submitted by

Ann S. Waterman

July 30-31, 2006

Marriott Hotel

Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A.

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Publicity and Media

I. New accomplishments since 7-1-05, Web site:– Complete redesign of Web site, including:

• Modernized and improved overall appearance

• Converted entire site from .html to .php to allow for database functions (requested at last year’s EC meeting)

• Recreated and relaunched The Hive– Been successful thus far in keeping spammers out, although

monitoring is necessary

• Created new sections for EC docs, stationery and logo files, etc.

• Kept job listings and home page current; reduced response time from several weeks to 24 hours

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Publicity and Media

I. New accomplishments since 7-1-05, Web site, cont’d:

– Assisted several chapters with their Web sites– Streamlined and reorganized the site’s file structure

• Previously, the home directory was a vast dumping ground, and impossible to navigate

• Now each sub-page has its own folder• Created a more logical and intuitive directory tree

– Implemented Society email addresses: memberbenefits@system-safety.org, journal@system-safety.org, jobpostings@system-safety.org; would like to implement more, especially for responding to inquiries about the Society

August 2006 4

Publicity and Media

I. New accomplishments since 7-1-05, Web site, cont’d:

• Performed regular updates (corp. member logos, changes in contact info, announcements, etc.)• 24-hour response time, in most instances

• Updated history pages and past award pages; removed three-year-old “News Flash” and other outdated material

• Made second complete off-site backup• This will be done every year in July

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Publicity and Media

I. Plans for 2006-2007, Web site:• Implement PayPal option for membership

fees, etc., if the EC wishes it

• Continue to add enhancements and new features as warranted

• Implement a Members Only area, if the EC wishes it

• Continue updates and maintenance

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Publicity and Media

II. New accomplishments since 7-1-05, Publicity (including Marketing):

• Sent out numerous press releases to newspapers in areas where Society and Chapter officers live and work

• Exchanged Web site notices with like organizations• Began organizing a database of publishable photos

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Publicity and Media

II. New accomplishments since 7-1-05, Publicity (including Marketing, con’t):• Created letterhead and slide templates, along with correct logo

files, and made them available on the Web (http://www.system-safety.org/ecdocs/stationery/): • Intended to promote a consistent and much more

professional “look and feel” for the Society• For example, the above logo, sent with our EC report

request, conforms to the Corporate standard, but the letter accompanying it did not

• Plans for 2006-2007:• More of the same• Try to enforce Corporate Identity standard across Society• Find new ways to attract new members and Corporate

Members

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Publicity and Media

III. New accomplishments since 7-1-05, Media:• Added full-color cover, and then full-color inside cover, to

JSS at no extra cost• Increased ad revenue• Redesigned some pages (in both print and e-edition) and

features to be more attractive, and to coordinate with new Web site design

• In response to EC request, tracked hits on eJSS to determine whether it is a good investment. Tracking shows that readership is comparable to (or even better than) the print edition — see chart on next page

• Published some groundbreaking articles, and increased dialogue among readers and submitters

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Publicity and Media

eJSS Hits, Jan.-Feb. 2006 Issue

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Publicity and Media

• Issues:– Mailing budget for JSS:

• The budget for mailing is set by June, but many new members (and especially non-U.S. members) join with the Conference. (This year, we would have exceeded it if the publication schedule hadn’t shifted to add one extra electronic issue.)

• JSS keeps getting bigger– The Web site is a tremendous time commitment, and requires

immediate response:• The Web site is a publication, just like JSS, and needs to be funded

as one • With time commitments up to 15 hours per week, no one employed

(let alone self-employed) will be willing to take this on in the future• A paid vendor is needed, just as with JSS

August 2006 11

Publicity and Media

• Issues, cont.:– More specialized technical knowledge is required every day:

• Copyright/plagiarism issues• Computer, desktop publishing and Web site issues• Spam prevention• Inadvertent infringement issues (e.g., mailto’s and unauthorized

links)

– Do we need a Director or OVP of Tech. Resources?– There’s some money left in the Web site redesign budget, as

it was held back pending a decision on the Members Only and PayPal features. We would still like to use it. (Why penalize for cost control?)

August 2006 12

Publicity and Media

• Annual “Conflict of Interest” issue regarding A.S. Waterman and JSS:– Dave Davis (the JSS layout and production

editor for the past two years) will take over as publisher by Jan. 2007

– His résumé is appended to this presentation– I will continue to supervise in my capacity as

Director of Publicity and Media

August 2006 13

Publicity and Media

• Issues, cont:– Who should hire the Conference photographer: the

Conference team or JSS? (We would prefer that the Conference team do it, as they can meet the photographer and review his/her work locally)

– Chapter Presidents need to be reminded to submit Chapter News for every issue

– Non-members currently have access to two electronic issues of the journal, plus job listings and Web postings. Is this fair to members who are paying for these things?

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Publicity and Media

Appendix: Résumé of Dave Davis (4 pages)

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