Communications Activity Report for Quarter 2, 2013: 1 April 2013 – 30 June 2013 Summary This report summarises the University of Glasgow’s media coverage for Quarter 2 (Q2) 2013. In addition to a digest of domestic and international media activity, the report also includes details of our social media presence, I tunes U and U Tube Edu, of traffic using the University of Glasgow website and internal communications activity. Domestic Media According to our media monitoring service the University of Glasgow registered a total of 1,309 media clips in the period under review, compared with 1,339 in Q1 2013 and 1,135 in Q4 of 2012. The coverage was overwhelmingly positive, with only 27 of the 1,309 articles noted as negative. The majority of these related to the GUU controversy. SMG requested a breakdown of Scottish and UK media content. Excluding online, which cannot be quantified in this way, the press and broadcast split was 81 % Scottish and 19% UK. Of much greater significance are the AVE (advertising value equivalent) and potential readership which show that we reach almost as large an audience with close to the same AVE in the UK as we do in Scotland. This confirms that quality, rather than quantity, is important in any KPI measurement and underlines the effort placed by the communications team in extending our reach to the major UK market whilst retaining a strong position in Scotland.

SCOTLAND UNITED KINGDOM Print/Broadcast output 863 (81%) 205 (19%) Potential audience 229,100,359 190,283,779 AVE £1,854,947 £1,413,644

Figure 1 The breakdown of the 1309 articles registered in the April-June period was as follows: Press: 900; Online: 241; and Broadcast: 168 The media output had an advertising value (AVE) of £4,878,034 compared to £5,431,793 in Q1 2013 and £2,293,396 in Q4 of 2012. There was a total potential reach of 604,682,033 viewings. This contrasts with 664,995,699 in Q1 2013 and 615,379,585 in Q4 2012.

Figure 2 During Q2 2013 73 news releases were issued, which is a significant increase on the 52 issued in Q1 2013 and 46 sent out to the media in Q4, 2012. All releases were also sent out via our social media sites. Re-tweets and postings have added significantly to coverage and uptake.

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News releases

As outlined above, quality is more important than quantity and the summary of outlets targeted and coverage attained confirms a trend of sustained success for the University of Glasgow in UK media. BBC TV and radio, Channel 4, ITV news and all the major London based broadsheets and tabloids carried our stories in addition to high profile Scottish coverage on outlets such as Newsnight, Reporting Scotland and the main press titles such as the Herald and the Scotsman. One news release – on the award of an honorary degree to the poet Aonghas Macneacail – was also issued in Gaelic as part of our commitment to the University’s Gaelic plan. All news releases are available on the web at http://www.gla.ac.uk/news Significant Output There were significant wins for all four colleges, and some of these are mentioned below. Members of SMG are sent daily updates of press coverage, and it is hoped that these are circulated to colleagues, although statistics suggest some use the cuttings service – which is very expensive – more than others. Although the team in communications send reports to those involved in significant stories, licensing agreements prevent us from issuing the material to all staff and we would urge senior colleagues to pay regular attention to press cuttings. College of MVLS Key communications contact: Stuart Forsyth 0141 330 4831; stuart.forsyth@glasgow.ac.uk Several major research stories were announced, with general and specific media targeted across the UK. Some of the most successful included:

Launch of the Stratified Medicine Centre in late April 2013. This involved detailed and extensive negotiation with the Scottish Government and partner bodies. The resultant output across print and television was good. Lessons are being learned on how to improve communications with partner bodies to assist in the long term promotion of this exciting centre

The latest findings from the stem cell research project into stroke victims was released, with extensive output across the main BBC UK network, BBC World Service, Channel 4, ITN and all of the major print outlets.

A new technique to encourage stem-cells to grow by “nanokicking” then 1000 times per second using high frequency vibrations achieved some excellent television and press coverage for a collaborative project that brought together an unlikely partnership of cell engineers and astrophysicists. The technique may help those with severe spinal injuries

A possible breakthrough in developing a vaccine against a virus that has killed scores of Asian elephants over the last twenty years

A study into cot death which suggested that babies who share a bed with their parents are at greater risk attained extensive radio, TV and print coverage. Including Radio 4 Today and BBC Breakfast News

http://www.gla.ac.uk/newsmailto:stuart.forsyth@glasgow.ac.uk

Coverage of world hypertension day including our roadshow tests on Daybreak (ITV breakfast news) BBC and STV. Communications staff also filmed this for internal use

A study into how the biological clocks of blackbirds had altered as a result of increased urbanisation, which has implications for human sleep patterns, was well profiled. It led to our headline of Q2 from one national newspaper –“Thrush-hour for birds”.

Research into the impact of some common household products such as cleaning items, make up and even cling wrapped food on pregnancy led to coverage on the Six O’clock news on BBC 1, Channel 4 News and the Guardian amongst many outlets.

A study into circadian rhythms, showing how exercise can help people stay healthy into older age also achieved significant coverage

Study showing that men could be subconsciously more attracted to women with less attractive facial features because they are less likely to be unfaithful. This was a very successful project which led to worldwide coverage, including the Mail Online.

College of Arts Key communications contact Nick Wade, 0141 330 7126; nick.wade@glasgow.ac.uk Q2 2013 was very productive for Arts in the media, with many high profile stories and outputs. Communications staff were pleased to receive some very positive feedback from colleagues on our efforts to promote just some of the following stories:

The discovery of a copy of a letter from Robert the Bruce to Edward II in 1310 which sheds new light on efforts to establish a peace between Scotland and England four years before Bannockburn. The remarkable find saw coverage across all UK and many international outlets, including BBC, Channel 4 and China Daily.

Study into how the Scottish Enlightenment aided the demise of a "code of manhood" in the Highlands

Launch of an online resource featuring letters from Bess of Hardwick, one of Elizabethan England’s most remarkable figures

Research into accents and the presence of bi-lingual in certain areas of Scotland. This attained extensive UK coverage but also featured across the English speaking world, including CBC and NPR in the USA

Conclusion of the Vox Populi tie in with the Scotsman newspaper with three further double page spread articles.

A week long International Comics and Graphic Novel conference on comic books secured widespread global coverage, as well as UK mainstream media interest

Coverage of interest in Robert Burns and his works in India was not only well covered there, but also led to some great output in the UK, including BBC Radio.

Media coverage of the Big Dig at the site of Bannockburn to mark the 699th anniversary of the battle

mailto:nick.wade@glasgow.ac.uk

Contributions to a number of major television and radio programmes, including BBC Scotland’s Spinning a Yarn: The dubious history of Scottish tartan

College of Science and Engineering Key communications contact Ross Barker, 0141 330 8593; ross.barker@glasgow.ac.uk As with the previous quarter, excellent coverage was attained on specific stories that communications staff were able to “package” for mainstream media, particularly television. The visual impact of some of the following is clear:

Discovery of the mechanisms by which carotenoids help turn light into useful chemical energy

Profile of a start-up company which has developed a product to allow runners to remain hydrated whilst keeping their hands free

Unveiling of research into the principles of photosynthesis which might lead to a breakthrough in ways to produce hydrogen, offering a possible solution to global energy problems – this was picked up extensively by the UK media, including a substantial piece in the Independent and a slot on BBC World Service radio

A new technique to make sophisticated 3D images using conventional digital cameras, which may have substantial medical applications. Was well taken up across the press, including BBC online and New Scientist

Glasgow researchers recreated the “cloud computing” pioneered by huge giants like Amazon and using lego bricks and cheap computer boards

A grant that might lead to a new portable device that would be able to detect illnesses through saliva or blood, suggesting something similar to a Star Trek tricorder had particular appeal to the press, especially BBC.

Research into adults who go missing, a collaborative project with other institutions, was taken up by, amongst others, the Independent on Sunday and the BBC

Launch of the Innovation centre on sensors. Comms staff have assisted with interviews and profiles and are currently working with CENSIS colleagues on a communications plan which will focus on the formal launch later this year

College of Social Sciences: Key communications contact Cara Macdowall, 0141 330 3683; cara.macdowall@glasgow.ac.uk Although there were some strong stories to emerge from Social Sciences, greater success was achieved in placing comment and opinion pieces across the media. A few of the specific stories that worked well in the press are mentioned below:

mailto:ross.barker@glasgow.ac.ukmailto:cara.macdowall@glasgow.ac.uk

Unveiling of Policy Scotland, with output in the main broadsheets. This will provide great opportunities in months and years ahead to engage in a constructive way on some of the key issues facing the country

Joint project with the University of Leicester into whether attitudes towards unemployment amongst young people have altered from the 1980’s to the present day drew extensive media interest

The Guardian featured our Football Fans in Training scheme in an article that looked at how sport could tackle obesity in the general population

A new research programme into crime rates, racial segregation and social equality across Scotland was unveiled, with in depth pieces noted across the print media in particular

The first findings from a five year study to measure the long term impact of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow found strong local support but concerns about litter, street safety and low-levels of physical activity. This drew coverage in print, but also on television and radio.

Extensive print and broadcast coverage for a study which showed that the amount of alcohol sold in Scottish shops had fallen by 2.6% in the year since multi-buy promotions were banned, according to research

A new study into palliative care levels across Europe was unveiled at a conference in the Czech Republic

Comment and Analysis In addition to the uptake of stories that we have promoted through the press, colleagues have offered their views in comment and opinion pieces or as media experts across a wide range of print, broadcast and online media on a huge range of topics. It is very pleasing to see, read and hear Glasgow academics engaging, and often leading debate. Some of the issues covered included: the Woolwich terrorism attack; oil reserves in the North sea; King James IV; Trident and defence issues for Scotland; the death of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher; Fascism in 1930’s Scotland; organ transplantation; Mongolia; the importance of Robert Burns in contemporary Scotland; the Boston bombings; the monarchy and an independent Scotland; the Eurovision Song Contest; Renewable energy; the quality of Scottish water; changes to the benefits system; sectarianism in Scotland; non verbal communication and the new Chelsea FC manager; naming of the new Forth crossing; the Comprehensive Spending Review The final three seminars in the Vox Populi series were featured in double page spreads in the Scotsman newspaper as part of our media tie in. The Scotsman expressed great satisfaction at the high quality of the nine feature articles, which provided excellent publicity for the invited speakers. The final lecture, by BBC Political Editor Brian Taylor on the Referendum of 1997 also featured on BBC online. Communications staff also arranged a media tie in for the Glasgow Science Festival with the Evening Times during Q2 2013, which resulted in several prominent articles in what was the festival’s preferred outlet.

We are now working with the Herald to secure a similar tie in with that broadsheet for a seminar series on How British is Scotland which is due to commence later this year. We also hope to have a media partner for a major conference on Scotland and Security which is being planned for November. Corporate Issues At a corporate level the communications team dealt with additional interest in the GUU controversy through tight media management. There was some negative press in the Scottish Daily Mail and Herald, particularly at the time of the student conduct hearing, but this was on a small scale compared to the output during Q1 2013, and the media impact was much less serious than it might have been. More positively, on the day of publication of the Post 16 Education Bill the BBC’s coverage focussed not on the legislation itself, but on a wholly positive film broadcast on Reporting Scotland (and radio version for Radio Scotland) on the widening participation record and achievements of the University of Glasgow. This was due to successful briefing from communications staff, working closely with colleagues in RIO. Reporting Scotland cameras were also live on campus to broadcast the weather forecast on a sunny early evening in June, which showed Gilmorehill at its best, and our campus was the venue chosen by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau for the launch of a new media profile for the city. We also facilitated filming in the quad for a promotional video for Glasgow’s candidacy for the 2018 Youth Olympics and we continue to work closely with partners in GCMB, Glasgow Council, the Commonwealth Games team and others. Whilst attracting strong coverage on research and reputational issues is a core part of what we do, we also aspire to work with all media that might assist in the marketing of the University. An obvious key audience for the University is potential students and their parents/teachers from RUK. We were therefore very pleased to accommodate the X Factor on another sunny day at Gilmorehill. Filming will be used in the Glasgow auditions episode in August to a potential audience in excess of eight million viewers on ITV1. Our status as a university that reaches out to the younger generation was also endorsed by the exceptional coverage attained for the honorary degree awarded to Emeli Sande. This included a range of print and broadcast media in tabloid as well as broadsheet, online and social media and BBC Radio 1 and the Radio 1 webpage. There was also tremendous media profile for the award made to former Monty Python actor Terry Jones.

It can be difficult to interest domestic media in some of our internationalisation initiatives. However the announcement of scholarships that will be offered to students affected by the April earthquake in China as part of a new agreement with UESTC was picked up, with good spreads achieved in both the Herald and the Scotsman.

Communications staff worked with the Scottish Government and colleagues from the University of Edinburgh on the announcement of additional SFC funding for Global Excellence in Research in May 2013.

Media Training

Additional professional media training is being secured and will be offered to colleagues from the beginning of the new academic term in September. These full-day courses proved to be exceptionally popular and very useful when rolled out last session, with an overall satisfaction rate of 94%. The courses will be subsidised by communications, and details of how to join and how much they will cost will be circulated to the colleges and University services in due course. International media As with the UK media, output internationally was strong both in terms of quantity and – we believe – in quality. During Q2, there were a total of 3,976 articles picked up by the Meltwater analysis tool. This compares to 3,300 pieces noted in Q1 and 2,217 from Q4 2012.

Figure 3 This included 1,603 (40%) in the United States of America, 404 (10%) in Germany, 326 (8%) in India and 115 (3%) in China. India accounted for the third-largest block of media coverage, which is significant given the importance of this market. We have recently renewed our contract with Comma Consulting which has proved invaluable in boosting and supporting activities in India. During April, a delegation to India took part in a number of events in New Delhi (as well as smaller engagements in cities around the country) which were supported by media relations and Comma. A significant amount of media coverage was generated for the academics involved. Of particular interest was several articles in the Indian media about the connection between Robert Burns and Indian nationalism is Bengal, which was picked up in the Deccan Herald, the Times of India and the Kolkata Telegraph These articles, as well as research stories, support the wider marketing activities in India and prompted a couple of enquiries from academics in India and Pakistan expressing interest in collaboration and an enquiry from a prospective student.

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In China, the launch of the University of Glasgow-UESTC joint school in Chengdu was another major event supported by media relations. A media plan was prepared and press releases in both English and Chinese were written and a good deal of coverage was generated in partnership with UESTC colleagues. The news was also posted on the official University Sina-Weibo account, which is being run by a Chinese intern at present. The post is now being made permanent on a pro-rate basis. The Sina-Weibo account itself is doing very well with more than 3,700 followers.

Figure 4 The communications team is in the process of recruiting an International Media Officer who will work closely with communications, RIO, DAO and other colleagues in coordinating an international media strategy. It is hoped that interviews for this post will take place in the autumn of 2013. Social Media The number of followers to the University of Glasgow’s main social media accounts has continued to grow, with Facebook and Twitter (augmented, as above, by Sina Weibo in China) now important vehicles in our communications portfolio. The University of Glasgow has remained fifth in the UK for both Facebook and Twitter for the second successive quarter. Our followers on Facebook now stand at 47,306 compared to 38,138 at the end of Q1 2013 and 34,025 at the end of Q4 2012. Our twitter account now has 27,500 followers. This is up from 21,970 at the end of Q1 2013 and from 19,688 at the end of Q4, 2014.

The communications team is in the process of recruiting a Social Media Officer to drive forward a social media strategy that will closely align with the University’s strategic plan. Interviewing for this position will take place in mid July 2013. Russell Group Facebook likes (excl Oxbridge)

Figure 5 Facebook likes by gender

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78,926 United Kingdom

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Figure 8 Website The number of external visitors to the www.gla.ac.uk website increased by 6.4% from Q2 2012 to the same period in 2013

Time period Off campus unique visitors to www.gla.ac.uk

1 April – 30 June 2012 1,324,102

1 April – 30 June 2013 1,408,787 From Q2 1012 to Q2 2013 the total number of visits to the University of Glasgow website increased by 7.92% The percentage of visits from outwith the UK also showed a marginal increase from Q2 2012 to Q2 2013 – up from 31.72% to 32.27%. The ten countries with the greatest number of visitors to our website were as follows (variance from Q2 2012 – Q2 2013):

United States (+13.35%)

India (+3.16%)

China (-13.32%)

Germany (+10.59%)

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Greece (+17.11%)

France (+10.51%)

Canada (+1.79%)

Spain (+4.40%)

Singapore (+46.97%)

Italy (+3.82%)

Over the same period, traffic to the website from mobile devices has more than

doubled - from around 9% of visits to 18%. In response to this, the Webteam has

started a roll out of a responsive design for the site, optimised for smaller-screened

devices. For more details please visit: http://www.gla.ac.uk/research

ITunes U The iTunes U channel has a total of 63 collections of material belonging to the following:

21 - College of Arts

13 - College of Social Sciences

11 - College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences

07 - College of Science and Engineering

11 - General information and University Services

These collections are comprised of a total 445 items (mainly video and audio but some digital publications) which have been used as follows:

21,515 browsed content (last quarter - 31,928)

16,674 accessed content (download and streaming) (last quarter - 26,997)

2,844 new subscriptions added (last quarter - 4,988)

http://www.gla.ac.uk/researchhttp://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/

Figure 9

This is the 4th quarter iTunes U results have been reported and after the initial rise the figures have shown a steady decrease over the last few months. This may well be due to the end of the academic year and onset of the summer holidays. We would anticipate an improvement once the new academic year begins and users have need of the materials.

Activity by country:

Activity by device:

Figure 10

In addition to the collections we currently have 2 courses on iTunes U: Digital Electronics With 2049 current students/subscribers and for the period April - June 2013:

1,474 browsed the course

2,287 items downloaded from the course

and 456 new subscribers

The course has 38 items of audio, video and digital publications material. Rehabilitation and Desistance to Crime With 148 current students/subscribers and for the period April - June 2013:

408 browsed the course

559 items downloaded

and 52 new subscribers

The course has 31 items of audio, video and digital publications material. YouTube Edu The university has been granted official YouTube Edu status and now has:

241 videos online (previously 146)

which have been viewed a total of 129,601 times

The channel has a total of 566 subscribers since launch.

In the April-June 2013 period:

44,068 views (last quarter 25,186)

153,719 minutes watched (last quarter 69,083)

gained 217 subscribers (last quarter 120).

The number of views and minutes watched is in line with the increased number of new videos added.

A new promotional plan is currently under development which will enhance this online channel by adding tags, keywords, annotations and other tools to better promote our material, this plan will be in place by end of Q3 then retro-fitted to existing content. Playback of videos on our YouTube Edu channel is from a variety of devices: YouTube Watch pages - 69% (average view duration 3:34 mins) Mobile devices - 25% (average view duration 3:28 mins) Embedded player on other web pages - 2.8% (average view duration 2:47 mins) YouTube channel page - 2.3% (average view duration 1:57 mins) Traffic sources: YTE suggested video - 40% Mobile apps and direct traffic - 28.6% YouTube Search - 18.7% YouTube channel page - 3.7% Embedded player - 2.7% External Website - 2.7% Google Search - 1.8% Devices used to access videos: Computer - 71.9% Mobile Phone - 15.2% Tablet - 9.3% Unknown - 3.2% TV - 0.3% Game console - 0.1% Geographical locations for users (the top five in order): UK, USA, India, Australia and Canada Gender balance: Male 57.4% Female 42.6% Over the last four quarters the largest user group on our YouTube Edu channel is: 13-17 years in the UK (20%) and 45-54 age group in the US (31.5%). Internal Communications During Q2 2103 consultation on an internal communications strategy with Colleges and other stakeholders continued. The Internal Communications Manager presented a strategy document to the HR Committee and made a similar presentation to the Senior Management Group. The key supporting requirements are:

Leadership commitment to improving the flow of information from decision-

making to facilitating engagement/staff feedback

establishing a network of communications contacts throughout the University

structure

the establishment of a staff portal, working in partnership with IT Services and

as part of the information architecture review

The Internal Communications Manager has also addressed the HR Operations & Team Briefing Meeting. Planning has continued for a large-scale staff event, Campus Conversation, on 27 September. Campus eNews has undergone a design-change aimed at improving its appearance. The newsletter also now features a regular section on internationalisation highlighting initiatives and individuals involved in the drive to extend our global reach. We have continued to use video to enhance internal communications: during the period under review Campus eNews has featured interviews with Ann Allen on the estates strategy and Professor Dame Sally Macintyre on the changes to the Medical Research Council/Chief Scientist Office Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow. Communications has continued to support stakeholder engagement during consultations over the future of the UGPS. We assisted in organising the mailing to existing scheme members and the provision of information to potential scheme members. Contacts The communications office is staffed 0900-1700 Monday-Friday, but we provide a 24 hour out-of-hours service and a member of staff is always available Peter Aitchison Director, Media and Public Relations 0141 330 7350 07766 111244