Reaching out to the media with research during the summer

While the Communications Office is staffed every weekday throughout the summer on the phone number for media contacts and at press@umu.se, the people manning these cannot handle more than the direct requests from the media. However, there is no possibility to send out press releases for scientific articles published in July. 

If you already know that there will be a publication during the holidays, it is a good idea to contact your faculty communications officer to try to resolve it before or after the holidays.

Find contact details to the faculty communications officers

Summer topics always go well

However, you have a good chance of reaching out with your research yourself during the summer by contacting  an editor or journalist yourself. Think about what could be interesting to highlight, and ask your faculty communications officer for help if you need it. It does not have to cover finished research results, ongoing research also interests the media and even better if you have knowledge in topics that are anchored in the news agenda. For example, there are usually articles on sunscreen, warming seas, good or bad weather, forest fires, heat, spending time with family, tourism and so on. But it can also be an opportunity to highlight forever-popular topics such as diseases/cures, forests, crops, the world security and so on.

“Summer list” to the media

The Communications Office will also send a targeted email to Swedish journalists with a list of experts in some summer topics. Read the list (only in Swedish): Press tips from Umeå University – summer 2025. If your name is listed, it does not mean that you must be available all summer. You decide for yourself if you have the time or desire to respond to any incoming queries, which the journalists also understand. This is also stated in the email. The summer months are a good time to reach out! If you would like to make any adjustments or think you have research that might be suitable for the summer list of experts, please get in touch at press@umu.se.

Good luck with the press tips this summer!