University in the Printed Press, September 2006
Please note the monthly media audit does not include broadcast coverage or the extensive online coverage which is featured on:
http://www2.le.ac.uk/ebulletin/news/in-the-headlines/ULPC
Total cuttings - 118
Executive Summary
September’s media coverage in the printed press was dominated by:
Dr Adrian North's, School of Psychology, study about what our tastes in music says about us, which received very good coverage in both the international, national and local media.
Other stories receiving prominent coverage include:
Dr Monica Lakhanpaul, Child Health, commenting on whether children are physically fit enough to concentrate properly on their studies. Again, achieveing excellent coverage in btoh national and local media.
Dr Paul Monk, Department of Chemistry, with his team of Earth Observation Scientists' research into Carbon Dioxide levels in the Earth's atmosphere also received various mentions in both levels of media.
Tim Grant's, School of Psychology, research into 'text-fingerprinting', which was heavily covered in August also had several mentions during September.
The coverage followed a bumper amount of media coverage in August for the following stories:
Geology research into uranium hazards; Identity Theft- Professor Martin Gill; Psychology Research into a sense of national well being ie 'World Map of Happiness'; and Psychology research into forensic linguistics.
Evaluation
The University received 38 mentions in the national press, and 80 in local publications. The Leicester Mercury provided a popular outlet for stories involving the University, showing the importance of maintaining strong links with the Leicester-based media, be it printed, online or broadcast. The University also fared well in the national press, where the Times was our best outlet. There was a diverse spread over the national media, but on the whole the University has done well to gain coverage in the each of the broadsheets at least once during September. The ratio of 80-34 illustrates that not only are we gaining coverage in Leicester-based and national media, but that the various stories coming from the University are being picked up by local newspapers and magazines around the country, thus ensuring that the University of Leicester brand is gaining country-wide acknowledgement. Continued coverage in publications such as 'New Scientist' shows that our research stories are bringing continued recognition amongst academic peers.
University of Leicester in the Media
National v Local / Frequency
National / 38
Local / 80
Publications that mentioned the University on a number of occasions
National Media
Publication
Asian Times / 2 / Local Media
BBC News / 2 / Publication
New Scientist / 2 / Birmingham Evening Mail / 2
The Daily Mail / 2 / Isle of Man Examiner / 2
The Daily Telegraph / 2 / Kettering Evening Telegraph / 3
The Guardian / 1 / Leicester Mercury / 34
The Independent / 1 / Leicestershire & Rutland Life / 2
The Times / 6 / Yorkshire Evening Post / 2
THES / 6
Top Five University Stories in the Media, September 2006
There were some stories which achieved excellent coverage in both the national and local mediaas noted in the Executive Summary. What follows is information about what these stories were, how many times they were commented on, and a table to illustrate this. As you can see, Adrian North's musical taste study did particularly well, and Adrian should be commended for his approach to working with the media which helped increase the coverage in both the printed press and online media.
University Focus / Frequency / Summary
Dr Adrian North, School of Psychology / 13 / What does your musical taste say about you?
Dr Monica Lakhanpaul, Child Health / 4 / Are children healthy enough to learn?
Dr Paul Monks, Department of Physics and Astronomy / 3 / Scientists observe plants reducing Co2
Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, Department of Genetics / 3 / Top Award for Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys
Tim Grant, Kim Drake, School of Psychology / 2 / Text-fingerprinting
University Departments Most Mentioned, September 2006
The School of Psychology did very well in September, getting no less than 19 mentions across local and national printed press. This was in large part due to the coverage of Adrian North's musical taste study, but also thanks to the continued effort by Tim Grant with his 'text-fingerprinting' study, and Lorraine Sheridan's academic expertise on the topic of stalking.
Both Health Sciences, Physics and Astronomy also achieved a high level of coverage, notably through the work of Dr Monica Lakhanpaul (Health Sciences) and Dr Paul Monks (Chemistry). While Dr Monks is from the Department of Chemistry, his close work with the Physics and Astronomy Department on Carbon Dioxide levels in the atmosphere increased mentions of that department.
The Department of Genetics also gained very good coverage, on two fronts: Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys's Dr H.P. Heineken Prize for Biochemistry and Biophysics 2006 by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, was noted in various publications; and Dr Annette Cashmore was mentioned twice in relation to the University's 'Dynamic DNA Day' at GENIE CETL
Department / Frequency
Genetics / 7
Health Science / 9
Physics and Astronomy / 10
Psychology / 19
University of Leicester Coverage in the National Printed Press
Date / Publication / Summary / University Focus
National / National / National / National
1 / The Times Higher Education Supplement / Recruitment drive success / Martin Parker, Business School
2 / The Weekly News / Students stifled by menace of the ‘helicopter parents’ / Clare Taylor, Student Welfare
2 / Asian Voice / SEWA project to climb Mount Kilimanjaro / Vipul Ladwa, President of the Hindu Students Forum, University of Leicester
5 / In the Know / Matching smiles are the key to lasting love / Dr Adrian White, School of Psychology
5 / The Daily Telegraph / A look at the debate on whether human spaceflight is necessary and useful / Professor Martin Taylor, Space Research Centre
6 / The Daily Telegraph / Scientists observe the creation of a supernova for the first time / Dr Paul O’Brien, Department of Physics and Astronomy
6 / Contract Journal / New Hall construction / Halls of Residence
6 / Professional Engineering / The successor to mars rover Beagle 2 / The Space Centre
7 / Daily Mail / What your lips say about you / Adrian White, School of Psychology
7 / The Times / New bird flu vaccine / Dr Iain Stephenson, Infectious Diseases Unit
7 / Daily Mail / Babies who do not have a full course of vaccinations are more likely to develop asthma / Professor Mike Silverman, Health Sciences
8 / New Scientist / What do Raquel Welch and quantum physics have in common / Microscopy Centre
10 / The Sunday Times / How to attend lectures without leaving the comfort of your duvet / Professor Gilly Salmon, e-learning
10 / The Sunday Times / Buying and renting student accommodation / University of Leicester
10 / The Sunday Times / University Guide / University of Leicester
11 / South Wales Echo / The most powerful people in South Wales: including Leicester graduate Professor Antony Chapman / Department of Mathematics
14 / Scottish Daily Record / What does your musical taste say about you? / Dr Adrian North, School of Psychology
14 / BBC Online / What does your musical taste say about you? / Dr Adrian North, School of Psychology
14 / The Times / What does your musical taste say about you? / Dr Adrian North, School of Psychology
15 / THES / Human cells ‘talk’ to each other / Dr Brian Ford
15 / The Guardian / Waking up to Global Warming / Paul Herrington, Department of GEology
15 / The Times / Awards: Leverhulme trust / University of Leicester
17 / Independent on Sunday / Atmospheric Pressures: Lost in Space. Space Soon Exhibition / Department of Genetics
20 / Auto Express / What does your musical taste say about you? / Dr Adrian North, School of Psychology
22 / Metro / UoL Scientists show plant life removing Co2 from the atmosphere / Dr Paul Monks, Department of Physics and Astronomy
29 / The Jewish Chronicle / The Life of Albert Einstein / Michelle Supper, Department of Physics and Astonomy
29 / THES / Acerage salaries across the University sector / University of Leicester
29 / THES / New IT Director at Leicester: Who's In Who's Out? / Mary Visser, Director of IT
29 / THES / Life Time Achievement Award: The Nominees / Professor Ken Pounds, Department of Physics and Astronomy
29 / THES / Higher Education Institute of the year Award / University of Leicester
30 / New Scientist / The vast sub-arctic forest and bogs may be just one degree away from disastrous and unstoppable thaw / Dr Heiko Balzter
SEP / Choice Magazine / Life Stories / Department of English, University of Leicester
SEP / Mobile Business / Do Criminals Text Differently / School of Psychology
SEP / Accounting Technician / Student Profile / MSc Finance, University of Leicester
SEP / ASIAN / From India to Leicester: Former Ghandi Tea-boy meets Lord Attenborough / RAC, University of Leicester
SEP / Laboratory News / Text-fingerprinting / School of Psychology
SEP / Library & Information Update / Is it the end of the road for paper textbooks? / University of Leicester
SEP / BBC Focus / British Space Exploration / Xeus Project, Dept of Physics and Astronomy
Univeristy of Leicester Coverage in the Local Printed press
Date / Publication / Summary / University Focus
Local / Local / Local / Local
1 / The Hartlepool Mail / Are children healthy enough to learn? / Do Monica Lakhanpaul, Department of Health Science
1 / Worthington Guardian / Are children healthy enough to learn? / Dr Monica Lakhanpaul, Department of Health Science
1 / Launceston Journal Gazette / Are children healthy enough to learn? / Dr Monica Lakhanpaul, Department of Health Science
2 / Leicester Mercury / Leicester scientist awarded major grant to investigate anxiety and fear from Marie Curie Cancer Care / Dr Robert Powlak, Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology
2 / Leicester Mercury / The Echanan and Miriam Elkes Memorial Lecture 2006 - Robin O'Neil: "Stepping Stones to Genocide - Aktion Reinhardt and the Holocaust" / School of Historical Studies, The Stanley Burton Centre for Holocaust Studies
2 / Leicester Mercury / Knighton Lane Artists Group’s exhibition at the Richard Attenborough Centre / The Richard Attenborough Centre
2 / Kettering Evening Telegraph / Vicki Pickering wins beauty pageant / University of Leicester
3 / The Stoke on Trent Sentinel Series / Are children healthy enough to learn? / Dr Monica Lakhanpaul, Health Sciences
4 / Leicester Mercury / Vaughan College open day / Life Long Learning
5 / Leicester Mercury / Space Soon – Art and Human Spaceflight, an exhibition at Camden’s Roundhouse / Dr Marcus S Cooke, Dr Mark D Evans, Tiago Duarte and Vilas Mistry, Department of Cancer Studies and Department of Genetics, Radiation and Oxidative Stress Section
5 / Bridlington Gazette & Herald / Are Children fit to learn? / Dr Monica Lakhanpaul, Health Sciences
5 / Milton Keynes Citizen / Are Children fit to learn? / Dr Monica Lakhanpaul, Health Sciences
5 / Leicester Mercury / Academic achieves his book goal / John Williams, Sir Norman Chester Centre for Football Research
5 / Leicester Mercury / Top Award for Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys / Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, Department of Genetics
5 / Leicester Mercury / Medical students are raising money for a project to improve eye care in Africa / Students from the University
5 / Leicester Mercury / Leicester-based band Kasabian play a secret concert at Leicester University’s Students’ Union / The Students’ Union
5 / Kettering Evening Telegraph / An Overview of Marriot Construction’s list of work, including the UoL / University of Leicester
5 / Northampton Chronicle & Echo / An Overview of Marriot Construction’s list of work, including the UoL / University of Leicester
5 / Leicester Mercury / A story about people who donate their bodies to science after death / University of Leicester Medical School
6 / Dunstable Gazette / Top Award for Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys / Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, Department of Genetics
6 / Luton News / Top Award for Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys / Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, Department of Genetics
6 / Welwyn & Hatfield Times Series / Tributes to Peter Boggon / University of Leicester
7 / Colchester Evening Gazette / Leicester to Paris Cycle Ride / Cancer Research Unit
7 / Derbyshire Times / Are children healthy enough to learn? / Dr Monica Lakhanpaul, Child Health
7 / Eastern Daily Press / Should Britain reverse it’s position on Human Space Flight / Professor Ken Pounds, Department of Physics and Astronomy
7 / Yorkshire Post / Britain’s stance on human spaceflight / Professor Ken Pounds, Space Centre
7 / Leicester Mercury / Curry and Wine can help cure cancer / Professor Will Steward, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine
7 / Leicester Mercury / Leicester does well in world ranking of universities / University of Leicester
8 / Essex County Standard / Leicester to Paris Cycle Ride / Cancer Research Unit
8 / South Notts Advertiser / Legacy helps student trio / Medical Biochemistry
8 / Leicester Mercury / Well-known head teacher is mourned / School of Education
9 / Birmingham Evening Mail / How Midland Colleges fared in Times league table / University of Leicester
9 / Leicester Mercury / University offers cash to bright students / University of Leicester
12 / Aberdeen Press & Journal / More than 200 women leave the UK every year because of a stalker / Dr Lorraine Sheridan, School of Psychology