Education? Yeah...we've got that

The Worldcon can be a very educational experience for its attendees, but at Suffolk University in downtown Boston, Noreascon Four has been the focus of an entire semester's work for more than 20 students who adopted the 62nd World Science Fiction Convention as their public relations client.

Students in the Communication and Journalism Department taking an advanced public relations course with Dr. Jane Secci spent the semester researching science fiction and fandom. On Monday, December 1, the class met with N4 Chairman Deb Geisler (who also teaches at Suffolk University) and Deputy Publications Division Head Geri Sullivan to discuss how to get the word out to New England that Noreascon Four's coming.

Four student groups provided amazing amounts of materials gleaned from hundreds of hours of leg work and research. Included in the presentations were details about how to get in touch with all of the Boston-area university newspapers and science departments, the prices of billboards in Boston metro, notes about the N4 web site, and radio ads -- some in script form, and one audio version.

We couldn't resist taking pictures of the student presentations, and we think you might like to see what these enormously creative public relations students developed. If you want to hire one (or more) of them, please email us, and we'll happily pass the word along!

Comments

[Zentinal]

I'm curious as to what they proposed in their presentations. Was there a web component to any of their presentations?

[Geri Sullivan]

Yep, each of the presentations had a web component. They suggested several improvements for the N4 website, and noted that some of them had even been made just the week before their presentations. (Time Travel R Us?)

The components covered in each presentation included Print, Electronic (which covered the web and mass media), Special Events, and...one or two others I'm spacing right now.

I was very impressed by how well the presentations focused on ideas that were free or very low in cost. Sure, they had ideas that cost a fair amount, too. But they seemed to grok of our budget constraints.

Some of their suggestions were also good community builders. Sponsoring readings in bookstores and libraries was a favorite of mine.

[Mary Kay]

So, is Suffolk Univ. an all women's school?

MKK

[Tom Kunsman]

Looks like N4 might have gotten some good ideas from this work. I was curious if the committe will pass any info along to future worldcons?

I did get the following error when I open the page with the photos:

>>
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>>

My end or your end?? thanks.