Media Relations

The Office of Creative & Communications shares stories about teaching, research and innovation to the public through the news media — and provides strategic counsel regarding approaching a media story, dealing with media issues and media training.


Media releases

The Faculty of Medicine’s Office of Creative & Communications and UBC Media Relations work together to write news releases, Q&As and targeted pitches to local, national and international media outlets. This includes working with our partners on shared stories.

Contact us if you have an upcoming journal publication or interesting story idea and we will work with you to explore how to promote your research through the news media.

Visit our news page to read our latest stories.

Become an expert

Each year, we receive calls from web, print, television, and radio journalists in B.C., across Canada, and around the world seeking UBC expertise on a wide range of topical issues.

If you are a UBC faculty member or researcher, you can sign up to be included in the UBC Experts Guide.

Media training

Online course

UBC Media Relations has made its basic media training available to UBC researchers online. The course is designed specifically to help scholars develop the confidence to engage with media about newsworthy research.

Trainees will learn:

  • how to evaluate the likelihood of media interest in a particular research story
  • how to distill complex findings into media-friendly messages
  • what to expect from various interview formats
  • how to prepare for an interview
  • how to control the focus of an interview
  • when and how to connect with UBC Media Relations to promote findings

Access the course with a Campus-Wide Login through Canvas Catalog and work through it at your own pace. The course consists of five modules that include exercises, quizzes, videos, and opportunities to ask specific questions of the Media Relations team. The course takes 2-5 hours to complete, depending on engagement with optional exercises.

To receive an enrollment link for the course, please email the Media Relations Specialist who supports your faculty.

Training sessions

We provide free, comprehensive media training designed to assist faculty and staff in becoming more effective in their interactions with print, radio and broadcast reporters.

Contact us to request media training before your interview or book a group session for your unit.

Resources for faculty

The UBC Media Relations website offers a number of online resources and advice on speaking with the media for UBC faculty and scholars. This site covers areas such as:

  • How we tell stories and distribute news
  • The impact and benefits of media coverage
  • Tips for opinion writing
  • How to write for The Conversation Canada
  • Resources for dealing with online harassment

The Office of Creative & Communications and UBC Media Relations are also available to help.

Electronic news service

UBC media relations offers several electronic news services for faculty and staff, including news releases direct to your inbox.