Publications & Internal Communications

The Internal Communications team brings clarity to the University’s mission by disseminating the information and telling the stories that move Howard forward. Our principal aim is to ensure that our campus community is informed and aware of the actions they can, should and must take to benefit themselves and strengthen our University. 

We have the ability to send communications to faculty and staff members, students, and deans. 

Internal Communications’ three principal strategies are:

• Align: We create lines of communication among the Howard community;
• Empower: We give employees a voice and listen to feedback; and
• Involve: We encourage the Howard community to actively participate in events or trainings.

Services

To fulfill these strategies, our team utilizes these three methods of communication:

• Email: Letters to targeted campus audiences to convey messages from University leadership; 
• HU! You Know! Newsletter: Recent stories highlighting campus community members and alumni;
• Bison S.A.F.E Newsletter: Campus safety and COVID-19 updates.

Additional Information

Submission File Format

• Written content must be provided as a Word Document.
  • If shared via SharePoint link, please be sure that the link is accessible.
• Please be sure that all accompanying documents are functional and live at the time of the distribution requests.
  • Photographs must be high resolution and submitted as a:
    • JPEG or PNG;
    • PDF; or
    • Link.

Audience

• Based on the intended audience for the communication, the opening address should be formatted based on one of the following options (please note that all communications will follow the same “Dear Howard University …” construction):
  • Dear Howard University Community;
    • This includes faculty, staff and students.
  • Dear Howard University Bison/Students;
    • This includes all HU students.
  • Dear Howard University Faculty; and
    • This is for faculty only.
  • Dear Howard University Employees
    • This includes all faculty and staff.
• OUC does not have the internal capacity to separate messages based on classification, dormitory location or specific departments.
  • Only under critical, cabinet-level approved circumstances can the above mailing lists be divided. In these cases, the requestor must submit a list of intended recipients, complete with the name and email address of each individual.

In-Text Contact Information

• Please be sure to include all relevant contact information.
  • Department name;
  • Contact email or phone number;
  • and A sentence alerting readers to contact listed information in the event of question.

Signatory Line

• Correct division/office name; or
• Correct person’s name complete with academic credentials.
  • Correct: Janae Doe, Ph.D., MD
  • Incorrect: Dr. J. Doe

Publications Guidelines

Howard’s print and digital publications allow the University’s stories to be told through the amazing accomplishments, life-changing work and inspirational stories of those in our vast global community. We publish magazines and newsletters that keep members of the Howard community, from near and far, connected to the Mecca. The publications highlight major campus events, important endeavors by members of the Howard community, and critical perspectives on salient topics by Howard thought leaders. Through vivid writing and captivating images, our publications provide an opportunity for Howard students, faculty, staff, administration and alumni to showcase their work and demonstrate how it relates to Howard’s mission as an institution and furthers our unique vision for society.

Howard Magazine

Howard Magazine is an award-winning publication that helps alumni stay connected to the University and with each other. It showcases the accomplishments alumni have made in every profession and how they have diversified and changed their respective industries. It also highlights the University’s unyielding commitment to prepare some of the nation’s brightest minds to meet the challenges of an increasingly competitive and global society.

With a print circulation of 85,000, Howard Magazine is published three times a year (including digital-only edition) and distributed to Howard University alumni, faculty, staff and students as well as legislators, corporate partners, foundations and private donors. It is published in early February, mid-May (only digitally) and mid-September. 

Services

The magazine includes the following departments:

• Perspective: A breathtaking horizontal photograph that showcases something related to Howard, anywhere in the world. 
• Expressions: First-person opinion pieces about a particular topic that’s relevant to Howard.
• Campus News: Updates around the University.
• Vision: A piece highlighting a person, place, topic and more that is designed to leave a legacy to Howard.
• Features: Long-form reported stories about a person or people, place, topics, issues or subject of timely interest to the Howard audience.
• Alumni Stories: A profile about an alumnus’ recent work or achievement.
• Class Notes: Updates on Howard alumni, including professional and life changes.
• In Memoriam: Remembering Howard community members who have passed on.
• Bison Bookshelf: Editorially selected books written by the Howard community.
• Echoes: A first-person narrative about a distinct memory at Howard, written by an alumnus, faculty or staff.

Bison Beat

Bison Beat is a digital-only newsletter from the Office of the President. It highlights news and updates around campus; showcases alumni, faculty and student work; and more. It is published eight times a year and distributed to Howard University alumni, faculty, staff and students. It is published in September, October, November/ December, January, February, March, April and May.

Each issue is centered around a theme. Stories include:

• Student, alumni, faculty or staff profile on a particular topic;
• Campus updates;
• Recent hires and promotions at Howard;
• In Memoriam;
• Features on the theme of the issue; and
• A profile on a scholarship or grant.

Submissions

We absolutely welcome ideas for topics and stories! We will determine whether they are a better fit for Bison Beat or Howard Magazine.

• For all article suggestions, please do not send completed articles or stories. Rather, please send a brief pitch (4-5 sentences) that includes contact information and whether there is high-resolution photography available. Stories must have a Howard connection (i.e., they must focus on a Howard alumnus, faculty, staff or student; an event that took place at Howard; or some other topic directly associated with the University). 
• For Class Notes and In Memoriam notices, please also send the press release or obituary, if possible. If a photo is available, please send it in its original size.
• For Bison Bookshelf, please send a summary of the book, a link and a jpeg of the book cover. Physical books should be sent to: Howard Magazine, 1851 9th Street. NW, 4th floor, Washington, DC 20059.
• For Echoes stories in Howard Magazine, please do send a completed story that is no more than 400 words. It should include your headshot, a 15-word bio and a possible accompanying photo. Both should be high-resolution images (300 dpi). 
• For photography to be considered for Perspectives in Howard Magazine, please send the largest possible version of the photo at a minimum 300 dpi and taken horizontally. 

Please note that story ideas should be sent well in advance (four months for Howard Magazine; two months for Bison Beat) to accommodate the editorial cycle.

Services

We provide editorial and copyediting services for all publications. If you have an idea, but need assistance with writing it, we can help you with that. We will work with you to gather information and statistics, determine the proper tone/voice and develop drafts within the timeframe assigned.