University News Service is a gateway to communications with external and internal audiences. In addition to handling media relations, the office produces a variety of e-newsletters for specialty audiences as well as for faculty/staff of various schools/colleges and offices. It also is responsible for a daily campuswide e-mail news summary and a weekly e-mail summary distributed to the news media.

The office manages the news and events sections for the University’s home page and maintains an extensive news Web site (http://news.uns.purdue.edu), which includes a searchable archive of news and publishable photographs dating back at least to 1994. The News Service also plays a role in producing videos that are available for viewing in the “On Camera” section of its Web site. In addition, the office custom designs dynamic news modules for offices around campus.

The materials produced by the News Service are the foundation of numerous campus print and e-mailed periodicals for alumni and friends, opinion leaders, government officials, and faculty/staff. The office staff also serve as communications and marketing consultants, offering assistance with a full-range of communications needs including communication plans and analyses, focus groups, advertising, newsletters, and special events.

The office works closely with the vice president for university relations on public affairs issues and crisis communications, and its senior staff serve as spokespeople for the University.

University News Service is home to the Purdue Speakers Bureau, which matches Purdue faculty and staff with community groups looking for speakers. As part of the Speakers Bureau and the media relations component of its mission, the News Service offers an online searchable database of Purdue faculty, including short biographies, their photos, their areas of expertise, and links to recent news releases in which they have been involved.

The office provides free, custom-designed media training workshops on topics ranging from the mysteries behind publicity to interviewing, working with the media, and speechwriting.

It is one of three offices on campus authorized to distribute news releases for Purdue. The others are Athletic Public Relations and Agricultural Communication Service.