HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 PubComm Year In ReviewYEAR IN REVIEW
2016
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OFFICE OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
"I appreciate the super job you and your gang do for the city every day.”
- Department Director
Public Communications documents a variety of city events and activities. One example in
2016 was the dedication of statues depicting a Native American and an African-American
buffalo soldier at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex.
Year In Review
Office of Public CommunicationsLike other departments, the workload for Public Communications is a reflection of the needs and expectations of our citizens. We quarterback the necessary awareness and education efforts for College Station’s many events, programs, services, construction projects, neighborhood issues, public safety concerns, traffic management strategies and economic development efforts — just to name a few.
What does Public Communications do?This 2016 Year in Review is meant to connect the dots for you — to illustrate the depth and breadth of our organizational support and citizen engagement, and to show that many of last year’s successes didn’t simply happen by accident; Public Communications played a significant role.
This might be my favorite excerpt of a recent email from a city department head:
“Thank you again for being there for us.”
On behalf of my extremely talented staff, I thank you for the opportunity to work with yours.
-- Jay Socol, Director
MEDIA RELATIONS ............7 PHOTOGRAPHY .............36
CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT .......13 MEDIA SURVEY RESULTS.....39
ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT . .19 OUR STAFF .................49
SOCIAL & DIGITAL MEDIA .....27
YEAR IN REVIEW2016
"Need to clone Jay and Colin and send them off to work media relations throughout the state.”
- Media survey response
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MEDIA RELATIONS
MEDIA SURVEY RESULTS
2016
What We Do BestThis is a core strength of Public Communications. It’s a combination of (1) seeing potential trouble coming, developing a strategy and then executing it, if required; (2) proactively driving issues and their narratives; and, (3) facilitating answers and interviews to inquiring media outlets.
It’s more art than science, with the realization that you can’t entirely predict what the day will bring. Look no further than the sharp increase in negative stories (2016 vs. 2015): No one predicted the multiple homicides that earned College Station coast-to-coast media attention for all the wrong reasons.
However, through an annual, anonymous media survey, the feedback on the quality of our media relations work continues to be very strong.
>>See page 37 for complete results
PubComm is helpful to my reporting.
PubComm meets my expectations.
PubComm responds in a timely manner.
PubComm is trustworthy.
City news sources are accessible.
City news sources are pleasant.
City news sources are trustworthy.
Public Communications helped the city successfully navigate a challenging budget
process that including significant increases in property tax and wastewater rates,
roadway and wastewater impact fees, and a new roadway maintenance fee.
FY17 Budget
9
Total stories tracked ........3,945Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2016
Police ......................56%
City Council ..................9%
General Topics ................4%
Parks........................6%
Fire .........................5%
Public Works ..................5%
Planning .....................3%
Economic Development .........3%
Water........................2%
Neighborhoods ................2%
Elections .....................1%
MEDIA TONE
Positive 842 21%
Neutral 1,819 46%
Negative 1,284 33%
Top positive stories
• College Station among fastest-growing cities in U.S.
• Judge Ed Spillane’s opinion pieces, news stories on fines and indigents
• College Station firefighter returns to duty after battling leukemia
Top negative stories
• Texas A&M student dies of drug overdose, fraternity brothers arrested
• Shots fired at Islamic Student Center
• Texas A&M student killed by former boyfriend
• Student bicyclist killed by city sanitation truck
NEWS COVERAGE
>>We saw a massive rise in negative news due to crime-related stories receiving national coverage.
In July, Public Communications responded on social media and documented a memorial
ceremony at the College Station Police Department remembering the officers who were
slain and injured in an ambush the previous day in Dallas.
Mourning Fallen Officers
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ISSUE MANAGEMENT
Mobile Device Driving Ordinance In November, a ban on using hand-held communication devices while driving went into effect. Public Communications helped CSPD develop a comprehensive campaign to educate the public about the ordinance, including a trio of videos. The effective outreach included Texas A&M, local media, and football fan bases from visiting universities.
FY17 Tax Increase, Roadway Maintenance FeeIn August, the city presented its proposed FY17 budget to the city council. The budget included a significant increase in property tax and wastewater rates, along with a new roadway maintenance fee. Public Communications helped define why the new revenue was needed through traditional media and the city’s owned media, including the city blog. City officials were also able to effectively use the results of April’s citizen survey -- which was coordinated by Public Communications -- to support its initiatives. As a result, the budget received little public resistance. The roadway maintenance fee was approved in November, again with limited public push-back.
Zika Virus and Water ContaminationPublic Communications worked with other local agencies to inform and educate the public about the spread of the Zika virus in the United States, especially in Texas. Through its Mosquito Abatement Program, the city distributed thousands of mosquito dunks to residents through neighborhood and homeowner associations. In the spring, a local water seller distributed erroneous information about contaminants in the municipal water supply. Through the city blog, Public Communications was able to effectively counter the misinformation and reassure the public that our water supply is safe.
Fatality Involving Sanitation TruckPublic Communications helped the city respond quickly and compassionately when a young college student died after being struck by a city sanitation truck. In addition to crafting an initial statement, we orchestrated a press briefing near the scene.
Public Communications worked with a professional research firm to conduct the city’s
first citizen survey since 2012. Through extensive promotional efforts, more than 2,000
citizens completed the survey, resulting in highly valid results.
Citizen Survey
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CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT2016
No longer is it a viable strategy to hope our new students and citizens learn all they need to know about having a successful experience in College Station. Our rate of growth has required Public Communications to prioritize intentional student and citizen outreach through a host of new partnerships and delivery methods. In 2016, we continued to make enormous progress in that regard.
Citizens UniversityIn 2016, 26 residents participated in the annual Citizens University, a free 10-week course that focuses on city departments, budgets, services and activities, along with the roles and responsibilities of city staff and elected officials. Participants asked questions, gave comments directly to department directors, staff and elected officials, and took part in hands-on activities to discover what it’s like to work in each city department. Other Texas cities routinely inquire about our CU program.
Community MeetingsPublic Communications staff attended 20 homeowner association, neighborhood association and community meetings. We also participated in the Neighborhood Plan Implementation Team, which is responsible for implementing and reporting neighborhood services/integrity-related items in the city’s five completed neighborhood plans. This activity helped the city maintain its Neighborhoods USA certification.
Neighborhood Seminar SuppersMore than 350 neighborhood leaders and citizens attended our eight Neighborhood Seminar Suppers, which featured informative discussions with various city staff members on topics that impact residential neighborhoods. About 90 neighborhood leaders attended a legislative update, and we formed a partnership with Texas A&M Horticulturist Charla Anthony to conduct quarterly meetings about landscaping, water conservation, gardening, and more. We also hosted our second seminar supper featuring Adult Graduate and Off-Campus Student Services and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
Public Communications’ biweekly email newsletter with information and updates is
tailored specifically for homeowner association leaders and members.
eNews for Homeowners
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Neighborhood Grant ProgramIn 2015, the city council increased funding for the Neighborhood Grant Program to more than $20,000. This year, grant awards were made to Brandon Heights HOA, Reatta Meadows HOA, and Springbrook HOA for landscaping and signage projects along major corridors. In previous years, grant funding had been reduced to $5,000 annually, limiting their impact and effectiveness.
Enhanced HOA NewsletterIn its second year, the enhanced electronic newsletter format has resulted in higher open rates (nearly 60 percent) and click-through rates (48 percent) than the previous year. The bi-weekly newsletter has almost 300 subscribers who also share it with non-subscribing neighbors. The newsletter has become an effective way to reach neighborhood and community leaders with vital city information.
Mosquito Dunk DistributionDue to the increased risks of both Zika and West Nile in Brazos County, Neighborhood Services changed mosquito dunk distribution to include residents who do not live in neighborhoods with HOAs or neighborhood associations. Previously, dunks were given primarily to neighborhoods that are a part of the City’s Neighborhood Partnership Program. In 2016, more than 2,000 dunks were given to residents outside of associations, and 5,000 dunks were given to association members. It was the largest number of dunks distributed since the Mosquito Abatement Program began in 2000.
Community ServicesAn unfortunate storyline related to our fast growth has been the loss of affordable housing. The housing challenge isn’t obvious to most of our residents but is an important issue. Public Communications proactively worked with targeted media outlets to tell these stories, highlighting the positive role Community Services plays in advocating for the working class. Those stories contributed to important dialogue within the city council.
NEIGHBORHOODS & COMMUNITY SERVICES
In an effort to reduce code and parking violations, Public Communications created and
distributed a two-sided, content-rich flier to thousands of new college student residents.
Tips on Parking, Ordinances
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STUDENT OUTREACH
New Student Conferences For the first time, Public Communications, along with the Bryan/College Station Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, hosted an informational booth at seven New Student Conferences at Texas A&M throughout the summer. Staff handed out a variety of city information and answered various questions for the new students and their family members.
Aggie Mom’s Club Public Communications created and distributed hundreds of welcome bags for various resident and student groups. The bags contain a variety of city information, including tips on how to be a good neighbor. We also distributed thousands of the two-sided fliers with “5 Tips to Help Students Thrive in College Station” and “How to Avoid Parking Citations.” The same themes were recreated and ran as advertisements in Maroon Weekly, The Eagle’s Aggieland Primer, Gig ‘Em Week program, Apartment Guide, Fall Parks Guide, and the Federation of TAMU Mothers’ Clubs Directory. We also redesigned the common code violation magnet for Community Services and assisted with distribution.
Campus EventsPublic Communications staff distributed city information to thousands of students at various Texas A&M events, including the Texas A&M Off-Campus Housing Fair, The Big Event, New Student Conferences, Adult Graduate Off Campus Student Services Vendor Appreciation Luncheon, Communication Class Facilitation Dinner, Winter Aggie Mom Dinner, and the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life’s Community Engagement Luncheon.
Aggie Up!Neighborhood Services Coordinator Barbara Moore and Marketing & Community Outreach Manager Lacey Lively are active members of the Aggie Up! Committee. The group meets monthly and participates in one of our neighborhood seminar suppers to help neighborhood leaders learn how we are working to educate off-campus students.
In February, department heads and other key members of the city organization
participated in extensive media training by the renowned Ammerman Experience. The
all-day session included realistic scenarios and mock interviews by professional trainers.
Ammerman Media Training
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ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT2016
City Council & CMO ServicesThe mayor, city council and members of the City Manager’s Office frequently are asked to participate in ceremonial functions and deliver speeches and presentations. Public Communications prepared several presentations, drafted speeches, and developed interview talking points to ensure our council and staff were prepared to represent themselves and the organization in excellent fashion.
Marketing ServicesPublic Communications took the lead in marketing events, activities and programs across the organization by developing and implementing effective marketing plans and social media campaigns. With Public Communications’ assistance and guidance, the Parks & Recreation Department received an award from its state organization for best department marketing for the third straight year. Additional details about our marketing efforts are outlined on the following pages.
Employee RecruitingIn collaboration with Human Resources and various departments, Public Communications produced a variety of materials in 2016 to help recruit high quality, qualified employees to join the city’s workforce. Included were recruiting-related videos and printed collateral for prominent positions such as fire chief.
Internal Communications In the last two years, Public Communications has accepted greater responsibilities for internal communications, including more than 230 blog posts crafted for CityNet. The department also assisted the City Manager’s Office in preparing various messages to employees. In the spring, more than 43 percent of city’s employees participated in survey on internal communications. City leaders are using the results of the survey to improve internal communication methods and practices.
For the first time, Starlight Music Series fans voted for their favorite artists in a voters’
choice contest. The top three vote-getters performed in the series’ finale in July.
Starlight Music Series Contest
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Parks & RecreationThe majority of Public Communications’ marketing efforts are focused around the events, programs and activities provided by the Parks & Recreation Department. Major annual events include Christmas in the Park, Starlight Music Series, Movies in the Park, and various youth and senior events at the Lincoln Recreation Center and Southwood Community Center. Marketing collateral included high-quality videos, handouts, posters, banners, advertisements and social media promotions.
Seasonal Program GuidesIn conjunction with the Parks & Recreation Department, Public Communications publishes three full-color, 56-page program guides each fall, spring and summer. In addition to a digital version available through the city’s website, more than 6,000 printed copies are distributed at locations throughout the city, including municipal facilities, hospitals, and doctor’s offices. The guide has been produced since spring 2011.
Pokemon Go EventWith the release of Pokemon Go, hundreds of citizens were roaming our parks in search of Pokemon. To take advantage of the phenomenon, Parks and Recreation, Candy 95 and Public Communications worked together to host an event at Wolf Pen Creek Park. It was planned in only three days and our only cost was staff time. Public Communications created a Facebook event and with Parks staff put together 300 bags filled with city information and promotional items. More than 4,000 people participated, many representing a new audience that, as a result of the event, now follows the city’s social media accounts.
EVENT MARKETING
Public Communications created a series of video brochures to promote Veterans Park &
Athletic Complex as a desired destination for regional and national sports tournaments.
Video Brochures
Athletic TourismVeterans Park and Athletic Complex played host to dozens of large scale, visitor-based sporting events in the summer. Among them were five state championships, three regional championships, and one national championship that attracted tens of thousands of participants and their supporters to College Station.
In collaboration with the Parks and Recreation Department and the Bryan-College Station Convention and Visitors Bureau, Public Communications captured videos and photos of the biggest events at Veterans Park and developed a series of video brochures to promote the destination at upcoming regional and national conferences in the fall.
More than 100 video brochures were selectively distributed to event organizers at conferences around the country. The brochures, videos and photos elicited positive responses and have contributed to several commitments for College Station-hosted events in 2017 and beyond.
ATHLETIC TOURISM
Public Communications worked with the Sanitation Division to create a full-color guide
that clearly outlined guidelines for the city’s sanitation and recycling collection. The guide
was mailed to more than 22,000 single-family homes.
Sanitation & Recycling Guide
COLLECTED EVERY OTHER WEEK
> Only the items shown above are recyclable. All other items must be discarded.> Shredded paper is the only recyclable that should be bagged (clear plastic bags only).> Paper/cardboard must be clean and dry.> Caps from plastics must be discarded.> Bottles, cans and other containers must be rinsed and cleaned. Any visibly soiled items must be discarded.
RECYCLABLES
Plastics type and
DO NOT include bags, wraps or packaging
Glass
All colors of glass bottles and jars
Cardboard & Paperboard
Flattened cardboard, paperboard,dairy and juice containers
Paper
Newspapers, magazines, junk mail, brown paper bags, phone books, non-condential oce paper, mixed/white paper
Metal Cans
Steel, tin and aluminum vegetable,fruit, and beverage cans
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2017
RESIDENTIAL SANITATION & RECYCLINGCOLLECTION SCHEDULE
MY GARBAGE
MY BRUSH/BULKY
MY RECYCLING
M T W TH F
M T W TH F
M T W TH FONLY ON OR WEEKS
Go to cstx.gov/recycle to find your garbage, brush/bulky and recycling collection days. Then circle your designated days/weeks above and reference them using this calendar.
Collections will move to Nov. 24 and Dec. 26
Check to see if a tag was left that explains why. No tag? Contact us at 979-764-3690.
Visit us at cstx.gov/sanitation.WHEN’S MY COLLECTION DAY?
MY ITEMS WEREN’T PICKED UP!
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS CANNOT BE COLLECTED
> Dirt, sod, brush, concrete or rock, tires, oil lters, and CFC containing appliances> Flammable materials such as oil, gas or paint> Contractor generated debris from construction, remodeling or demolition> Hazardous waste, liquids or any other materials prohibited at Twin Oaks Landll> Freon-containing appliances without a sticker indicating proper Freon removal from an HVAC technician
PLACING ITEMS FOR PICKUP
> Containers/items must be placed at the curb in front of your residence before 8 a.m. on your designated collection day.
> DO NOT place your containers/items: * Closer than four feet from other containers, mailboxes, cars, trees, etc. * On a sidewalk or street * Over sprinkler heads, water or gas meters, or cable/electrical boxes * Under low-hanging tree limbs or cable /electrical wires
> The arrows on top of the container should be facing the street and both wheels should be pointed towards your house. > Per city ordinance, you must remove your garbage and recycling containers from the curb within 12 hours of collection.
COLLECTION GUIDELINES
COLLECTED EVERY WEEK
> BRUSH ITEMS include tree limbs, shrubs, woody vines, and other herbaceous or woody plants. These items should be cut down to 8-foot (or less) lengths and neatly stacked within three feet of the curb near the front of your residence.> BULKY ITEMS include furniture, household appliances, large cardboard boxes, and other items too large to t in a garbage container.> DO NOT mix brush and bulky items in one pile. Please create separate piles.> DO NOT include bags of garbage. These items will not be collected.
BRUSH & BULKY
COLLECTED EVERY WEEK
> Garbage should be bagged, tied and securely stored in your provided container.> The container lid should be closed at all times. > DO NOT pile bags or trash around your container. These items will not be collected.
GARBAGE
CITY RESOURCES
Request an additional container Report a damaged or missing containerReport a garbage problemRemove contractor generated debrisNeed collection assistance for the disabled
cstx.gov/sanitationpubworks@cstx.gov • 979.764.3690
View your collection scheduleReport a recycling problem
cstx.gov/recyclerecyclerequests@cstx.gov • 979.764.6228
LANDFILL INFORMATION
Twin Oaks Landll2690 SH30 Anderson, TX 77830twinoakslandll.comBVSWMA@bvswma.com • 979.764.3832
MyWaste AppGet free access to sanitation and collection information from Apple and Android app stores. Residents without smartphones or tablets can go to cstx.gov/mywaste.
Household Hazardous Waste & Computer Collection Event Dispose of household hazardous waste at this free collection event held every April and October. Learn more at TwinOaksHHW.com.
/CityofCollegeStation @CityofCS
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Single-Stream RecyclingThe city’s single-stream recycling program debuted with the distribution of 22,000 bins in January. Public Communications developed a cost-effective marketing plan that included a full-color brochure (left), bin stickers, postcards, refrigerator magnets (below) and a video series broadcast for free throughout the local television market. Social media promotions, including paid Facebook promotions, also proved effective.
PROGRAM MARKETING
Public Communications produced three educational videos about the ban on hand-held
communication devices while driving. The videos featured Police Chief Scott McCollum, a
college student, and a young mother.
Mobile Device Driving Ordinance
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SOCIAL & DIGITAL MEDIA2016
+4,362 +3,900 +320 +73K +173K +287K
FACEBOOKlikes TWITTERfollowers LINKEDINfollowers BLOGviews SLIDESHAREviews YOUTUBEviews
38%1%30%71%22%28%
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
The city’s official Facebook and Twitter accounts play a critical role in our public relations
and marketing efforts. Both accounts saw continued growth in 2016. The number of
fans following our Facebook page increased by 38 percent (15,959) and followers of our
Twitter feed rose by 30 percent (16,800). We posted 742 tweets in 2016 that resulted in
more than 2,200 retweets.
New views of our YouTube videos grew by 28 percent to a total of 286,620. The most
popular new video was about the new ban on hand-held communication devices and
featured Police Chief Scott McCollum. It received 5,267 views.
Did you know?Among our peer Texas cities (75,000-125,000 pop.), College Station and McAllen are the only ones with at least 15,000 followers on both Facebook and Twitter.
In 2016, Public Communications began working with Code Enforcement to create
frequent blog posts about code issues. The six posts proved to be highly popular,
attracting an average of 580 views.
Code Enforcement
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The city blog continues to be a popular and effective cornerstone of our content marketing and public outreach strategy. After a significant increase in 2015 (23 percent), the growth in views slowed in 2016 but still showed a slight increase with the 123 new posts attracting a record 72,820 views. In addition, the blog ranks high on search engine queries. Since we began blogging in August 2010, we’ve posted 748 blogs, resulting in about 326,000 views, thousands of shares, and numerous news stories to extend the messaging even further.
Our live blog posts of city council meetings, as well as posts previewing the meetings, continue to be popular with local media outlets, which results in far more accurate and consistent news coverage.
Top 2016 blog posts
• 1,307 views Is this a thing? What’s coming to town and what’s not (episode 1)• 1,166 views Is College Station now THE twin city? • 1,107 views Why gorilla art is permissible but rooftop beds aren’t• 1,036 views Moving out? Consider the options for your unwanted stuff• 975 views Christmas in the Park: An event like no other
Top all-time blog posts
• 11,519 views Your account number is key when reporting an outage (2013)• 7,724 views Is your drinking water dangerous? (2011)• 5,268 views Treasure found in a drainage ditch (2012)• 4,090 views What’s allowed for game day housing rentals – and what’s not (2013)• 4,079 views New single-stream recycling program starts in January (2015)
BLOGGING SUCCESS
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Podcasting continues to gain mainstream popularity, but it remains widely ignored by
local government. These informal discussions on a variety of topics have proved popular
within the city organization, with local media and our citizens.
Podcasting with City Leaders
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SoundcloudPublic Communications maintained its podcasting efforts in 2016, producing 15 podcasts featuring 12 city leaders. Guests included City Manager Kelly Templin, Mayor Nancy Berry, Economic Development Director Natalie Ruiz, Municipal Judge Ed Spillane, Fire Chief Eric Hurt, Deputy City Manager Chuck Gilman, Assistant City Manager Jeff Kersten, Assistant City Manager Jeff Capps, Firefighter Chad Phillips, Deputy City Secretary Tanya McNutt, Recycling and Environmental Compliance Manager Heather Woolwine, and Neighborhood Services Coordinator Barbara Moore. The interviews were played 3,037 times. Our podcasting success had led multiple cities in Texas and other states to inquire about how to start their own podcasts.
Top 2016 podcast episodes
• 645 plays Is this a thing? What’s coming to town and what’s not (episode 1)• 340 plays Is this a thing? What’s coming to town and what’s not (episode 2)• 296 plays Our first look at single-stream recycling numbers• 205 plays CSFD’s swift-water rescue you might have missed• 165 plays World of Hurt: Retiring fire chief looks back at 35-year career
Top all-time podcast episode
• 1,243 plays Bryan-College Station – that’s my hometown (2013)
LinkedInLinkedIn, a business-oriented social network, has become a key tool in employee recruitment by positioning the city as an innovative employer of choice. Our LinkedIn page saw a 22 percent increase in followers in 2016 to a total of 1,807, third most among our 27 peer Texas cities. About 83 percent of our followers are non-employees, 31 percent work in government and 38 percent are entry-level professionals.
PODCASTS & RECRUITING
Since 2012, we’ve used SlideShare to enhance content in our blog and news releases.
This has contributed to more blog views, media stories and overall media engagement.
SlideSharing
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SlideShareThis social media channel continues to be Public Communications’ secret weapon for outreach. How effective is Slideshare? In 2016, we shared 161 PowerPoint presentations that attracted nearly 173,000 views — an increase of 71 percent from 2015. In addition, local media frequently embedded these presentations in their online news stories. Embeds on WTAW’s website alone produced more than 4,800 views.
Top 2016 presentations
• 2,755 views Northgate Mobile Food Court• 1,670 views Slideshow: Electric transformer Installed at Northgate Substation• 1,636 views 2016 Citizen Survey Results• 1,168 views 2016 Citizen Survey Council Presentation• 1,031 views CDBG Economic Development Guidelines
City WebsiteNo surprise: An analysis of cstx .gov shows that website traffic is increasingly driven from mobile devices. Of our website’s 2.6 million page views, 54 percent were accessed by mobile devices, including 49 percent by smartphones. To put that in perspective, mobile only accounted for about 6 percent of our website traffic in 2010.
Most popular web pages
• 303,710 views Home Page • 51,099 views Police• 131,475 views Utility Customer Service • 35,626 views City services• 97,490 views College Station Utilities • 34,485 views Employment• 68,686 views Athletic field status • 34,075 views Online services• 60,407 views Police significant activity • 33,921 views WPC Amphitheater
DIGITAL TRANSPARENCY
Every month, Public Communications records the city’s Exploring History luncheons and
broadcasts them on Channel 19. Since 2006, we’ve archived about 90 presentations from
this popular historical series.
Exploring History
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Public Communications produced more than 100 video products in 2016, including public service announcements and videos related to the ban on hand-held communication devices while driving, employee recruiting, internal communications, event marketing, council meetings, and Exploring History Lunch Lectures.
VIDEO PRODUCTION
US Youth Soccer Region III Presidents Cup at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex (top-
left); Juneteenth Celebration at Lincoln Recreation Center (bottom-left); CSPD’s Father
Fish day at Cy Miller Pond (right).
Photography
Brazos Valley Senior Games (top-left); Pokemon Go event at Wolf Pen Creek Park (top-
right); Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Park (bottom-left); National Night Out Kickoff
Party (bottom-right).
Photography
Karl Mooney is sworn-in as College Station’s 15th mayor (top-left); Breakfast with
Santa at the Lincoln Recreation Center (top-right); ASA 16-and-Under National Softball
Championship at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex (bottom-left); Reptile Day at Ringer
Library (bottom-right).
Photography
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MEDIA SURVEY RESULTS2016
Those responsible for handling media relations within College Station’s Office of Public Communications are helpful to my news gathering and reporting.
“Jay and Colin are the best in town!”
“I always appreciate how open and honest you all are with me.”
“Every time I have had a question, it gets answered quickly and generally completely. If more information is needed, it, too, is provided quickly.”
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Those responsible for handling media relations within College Station’s Office of Public Communications meet my expectations for accessibility.
“Even on his lunch hour or after hours, Jay Socol responds, even if it is just to say he’ll get back with me.”
“Jay’s always good about letting us know--ahead of time--if he will be away from the office, and to contact Colin instead.”
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Those responsible for handling media relations within College Station’s Office of Public Communications respond to me in a timely fashion.
“Jay and Colin are always quick to respond, whether by phone or email.”
“I think you all do an excellent job of responding.”
“There has not been a single instance when someone in our newsroom tried to reach Jay or Colin that they didn’t respond immediately.”
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Those responsible for handling media relations within College Station’s Office of Public Communications are trustworthy.
“These guys are the best at what they do but never compromise their loyalty to the city.”
“I have never been led astray for a story.”
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News sources, whether city council or city staff, meet my expectations for accessibility.
“The city manager is accessible. Other administrators are helpful.”
“There have been a couple of people who are hard to get in touch with. I think a lot of times when they hear the news is calling they think we are coming after them, but it would be nice to reassure them that we do positive stories too.”
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News sources, whether city council or city staff, are professional to deal with.
“There have been several instances in which we were trying to get information to the public and could not get in touch with the necessary officials at CSU.”
“I never had any hesitation to pick up the phone whether I had a question, or needed more information...”
“Sometimes council members can be a tad touchy.”
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News sources, whether city council or city staff, are trustworthy.
“For the most part in the past, council members haven’t let us down the wrong path.”
“I have always been provided with excellent information and feel they have trusted me with their information.”
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In what areas does College Station’s Office of Public Communications excel in helping you gather and report news?
“The staff is quick to respond and to find out the answer to my questions.”
“Jay and Colin have been excellent contacts when we need something. They understand the time sensitivity and have never told us “that’s not a story” like many PIOs.”
“Acknowledging requests quickly, obtaining information as fast as possible, and explaining why a request is delayed or not granted.”
“The department is exceptional at getting timely information to all the media in town and doing so in a fair and always-accurate way. The breadth of information this office is able to produce is impressive.”
“We appreciate the city council blog updates and the “five things to watch for” postings.”
“Jay and his crew always try to find us the people who are directly knowledgeable. That’s a really great thing!”
“The cstx blog is great! We often use it as a springboard for story ideas.”
“Always friendly and helpful in finding right sources or information.”
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In what areas does College Station’s Office of Public Communications need the most improvement?
“Would like to see more information on the economic development front, even as simple as what businesses are opening up shop (not just who is building a new building).”
“I think you all do an amazing job! If you feel like you know of a good story tell us don’t wait for us to call. We love sharing good news, too. Contact your most trusted reporter and tell them what you think will make a great story and they’ll be honest with you.”
“It could take over Bryan’s communications efforts.”
“Can’t think of any really - we always enjoyed to top 5 highlights of the upcoming city council report- that was truly helpful for us to get straight to the point and cover what was news - versus having to read through pages and pages of jumbo to hunt for the interesting topics to cover. Thank you for doing that.”
“Need to clone Jay and Colin and send them off to work media relations throughout the state.”
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College Station’s Office of Public Communications utilizes a wide variety of methods to proactively alert media. Which methods do you utilize most (chart), and which alternative methods would you like us to consider adopting (comments)?
“I think you all have it covered...I did especially enjoy hearing Jay on the radio in the mornings about upcoming topics or events...”
“I feel like the CS media staff is easily accessible through current methods. I can’t think of another way I would need to get in touch with them.”
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Jay Socol Director of Public Communications (7th year)
Specializes in media relations and developing strategic messaging for city council,
City Manager’s Office and city departments.
Colin Killian Public Communications Manager (7th year)
Expertise in media relations, internal communications, writing, editing and
developing traditional and non-traditional communication solutions.
Mike Neu External Relations Manager (9th year)
Helps internal and external stakeholders strategically use and track HOT funds.
Provides marketing and design expertise to economic development efforts.
Lacey Lively Marketing & Community Outreach Manager (6th year)
Develops, executes and manages targeted marketing plans for city departments,
including a separate outreach plan for college students. Leads the city’s social
media presence and coordinates the annual multi-week Citizens University class.
Barbara Moore Neighborhood Services Coordinator (9th year)
Problem-solver. The city’s trusted, primary liaison to 90+ registered homeowner
and neighborhood associations. Focuses on keeping residents informed of issues
affecting them.
Mark Beal Broadcast Media Specialist (10th year)
Specializes in shooting/editing video, animation, after-effects and photography.
Need a good video? Mark will create a great one.
Jon Carpenter Multimedia Coordinator (3rd year)
Specializes in graphic design, photography and managing integration of the city
brand in marketing and media forms.
OUR STAFF2016
Our department staff (left to right): Barbara Moore, Colin Killian and Mike Neu (top);
Jay Socol (middle); Mark Beal, Jon Carpenter and Lacey Lively (bottom)
OFFICE OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
"The wizard always stays behind the curtain.”
- Former Councilman John Nichols
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City of College StationOffice of Public Communications
City Hall1101 Texas AvenueCollege Station, Texas 77840
979 .764 .3445 office979 .764 .6258 fax
CSTX .GOV
/cityofcollegestation
@CityofCS
/city-of-college-station
blog.cstx.gov