Communicate Effectively with External Audiences

Developed in partnership between the Office of the Provost and University Communications, the Academic Communicators Network (ACN) helps University faculty enhance their capacity to communicate effectively with external audiences.

ACN helps you communicate about your research and scholarship, ensuring your work is highlighted in key places, enhancing your reputation as an expert, raising visibility for your academic programs, and bringing your findings and perspectives to a larger audience.

Programming consists of regular workshops, trainings, and presentations that provide useful insights into communications and media. The strategic communications curriculum focuses on:

• Media training/working with reporters
• Telling your story to prospective stakeholders
• Persuasive writing and presentations

Improving understanding and awareness of scholarly work can greatly increase its impact and support efforts in research, funding, and education. See some successes so far. 

Details on upcoming ACN sessions are shared directly with UChicago academics. For more information about the program, contact Melissa Sherwin, Director of Provost Communications, at melissasherwin@uchicago.edu.

Additionally, University Communications offers media training and other support for faculty members who are preparing for interviews with reporters. Faculty and researchers can also be added to the University’s Academic Communicators Network online database, where journalists can search for experts who are available for comment and analysis. To learn more, contact Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz, Director of Media Relations, at aelejalderuiz@uchicago.edu.