Results
ASSIGNMENT
Determine whether an association representing children’s hospitals should hold a first-time media conference showcasing its members’ research and, if so, what it should encompass.
WHAT I DID
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Surveyed 14 association members on recent research developments; 11 medical and science organizations on their media outreach; and 25 heath care reporters, editors and producers on their interests and needs.
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Recommended possible conference format and timing.
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Revamped media list, made new media contacts and suggested story ideas.
RESULTS
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Augmented staff resources to complete project they didn’t have time for.
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Uncovered opportunities for national media coverage
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Used conversations with members to reinforce their sense of affiliation with the association.
ASSIGNMENT
Assess the effectiveness of in-house syndication of weekly public affairs radio program.
WHAT I DID
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Surveyed half the program’s subscribers, a half-dozen national radio syndicators and potential new outlets.
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Discovered the program format was outdated. Recommended recasting the program as a news service; choosing more compelling subjects; and producing stories in shorter lengths that radio shows could integrate into their own programming.
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Augmented staff resources.
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Developed recommendations for future programming.
RESULTS
ASSIGNMENT
Reduce the length of a magazine-size annual awards booklet by half to cut length and costs.
WHAT I DID
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Suggested new format.
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Created template for write-ups to make them concise and consistent.
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Reduced printed pages by 50 percent.
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Completed project on time and under budget.
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Saved money.
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Developed flexible and reusable format.
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Increased readability.
RESULTS
CHALLENGE
Help researchers gather meaningful data for study on the effects of early parental loss on adult mental health.
WHAT I DID
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Participated in a National Institute of Mental Health study on the effects of early parental loss on adult mental health. I felt the study questionnaire was cursory and wouldn’t yield useful information so I sent researchers four pages of questions I thought would probe the experience of early parental loss in greater depth.
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Enabled researchers to gain an understanding of the experiences of study participants from the inside out.
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Motivated researchers to send out a follow-up questionnaire with 10 questions, seven of which were ones I had suggested.