Dissemination:
Communication,
Public Relations,
and
Propaganda
Linda Mason
lmason@osrhe.edu
DISSEMINATION
 requirement
 influences
 shows accountability
DISSEMINATION
 The process of COMMUNICATING
information about your research to the
PUBLIC
 NOT propaganda
ALL THROUGH THE GRANT
PROJECT
 Include dissemination strategies and
activities from the very beginning
 Link the dissemination activities to:
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the statement of need,
the program delivery,
evaluation, and
budget
NARRATIVE
 Include dissemination narrative in:
 your program narrative,
 evaluation plan, and
 budget - 5-10% of the total budget amount
In no way should
dissemination be an
afterthought!
 Disseminate information about
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activities
results
findings
successes
failures
human interest
FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE
PROVIDED BY YOUR
GRANTING AGENCY
 Use creativity
 Use tools available
 Tailor to fit your project
TARGET SEVERAL
AUDIENCES
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Very local - your own department
Local - your own college or university
State
Regional
National
International
Specific audiences identified by the
funding agency
REPORTS
 Document dissemination in
quarterly, annual, and final reports
 Include both successes and failures
 Use reports and dissemination as a
way to pave the future for more
funding!
 Find out and let others know
HOW MUCH $?
 Rule of thumb - about 5-10%
resources and effort
 Dissemination,
 Public relations
 Communicating about your grant efforts and
results
HOW?
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Presentations at technical meetings
Articles, briefs, other writings in
journals, magazines, newsletters
Press releases (you prepare and let
reporters edit – include photos)
Add information to a searchable data
base
Produce ‘How To’ guides
Produce leaflets and brochures
HOW?
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Special targeted meetings on campus and off
campus (host live meetings or use OneNet for
videoconferences)
 department
- college
 university
- high school students
 county
- high school teachers
 State
- Region
 nation
- international groups
 professional orgs
- civic organizations
Develop seminars and workshops of peers
Speakers to provide talks to various community and
professional organizations
HOW?
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Build dissemination events into your schedule
Identify uses for your grant activities to be
used in other settings
Communicate your willingness to share:
 schools
- organizations
 adult clubs
- civic organizations
 scouts
- university classes
 youth groups
- academic clubs
 senior citizen programs
 university recruiters
 university career advisors
 Continuing education workshops
HOW?
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Community discussion groups
Festivals
Cultural events
Conferences
Face-to-face meetings
Business leader groups
Churches
HOW?
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Develop DVDs, CD-ROMs, video tapes
Project website
Add links to other websites,
department, university, professional
organization
HOW CAN
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ONE NET HELP?
Videoconference local meetings
Videoconference statewide meetings
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All Oklahoma colleges and universities
All Oklahoma technical schools
85% High schools/middle schools
Libraries
Government offices and agencies
Hospitals
Businesses
HOW CAN
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ONE NET HELP?
Videoconference national meetings
Internet 2
National Lambda Rail
Project websites
Discuss with colleagues in other states
and/or other countries
Send results and data to colleagues in
other states & other countries
HOW CAN
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ONE NET HELP?
Share courses with other institutions
Share courses with high schools
Share courses with other countries
Virtual field trips for students and
researchers
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Research sites
Work sites
Application sites
Other states
Other countries
Museums or special collections
OneNet
 OneNet is the nation’s largest
private/public partnership
telecommunication system.
 Universities and colleges in Oklahoma
have access to the highest rated
telecommunication in the United
States.
 OneNet costs are invisible to the grant
agency and the project director.
WHY?
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Lead to future funding
Share with colleagues
Share with the world
New project ideas
Recruit into the field
Represent the field to the public
Responsible citizenship
Eliminate “reinvention of the wheel”
Increase status - you, university, funder
REMEMBER:
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Practice ethical behavior
Guard your intellectual property rights
Do not violate other’s property rights
Follow the public relations processes
and procedures of your organization
 If there is not a policy, help develop one
DISSEMINATION
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Have fun
Enjoy
Share
Communicate
Bask in your successes
Celebrate successes with others
Educate your communities
Remember, a success includes
identifying a failure and providing
insights for its remediation.