Content Guidelines for Posts on MLML Website

Goal: To outline desired content and format of different types of posts
Target Audience: Front Desk, Social Media, IT, WAG
Review: No formal review of posts → please proofread carefully

Types of posts covered:

• Press coverage
  • Posted by Front Desk or Social Media
• Events
  • Posted by Front Desk
• Public seminars
  • Posted by Front Desk or HelpDesk
• Defense seminars
  • Posted by Front Desk

Content Guidelines

• Use an existing post or a post template from the WordPress Resources webpage
  • To learn how to use an existing post or template follow these instructions
• Writing for the general public, not MLML community
• 5 Tips for Creating Posts

All posts must follow these guidelines:

• Have a minimum of one photo (make sure you have permission)
  
  • If a photo is not provided use:
    • A photo of the speaker or MLML personnel involved
    • A picture of the journal the article is published in
  • Relevant embedded video is encouraged
• Set a "featured image"
• Add links where possible
  • Hyperlink all MLML personnel to their pages on the website
  • If you mention a lab, hyperlink to that lab
  • Hyperlink to original article if appropriate
• Add tags: faculty names, subject matter, MLML lab, etc.
• Change the url ending (default is title of post with dashes)
  • E.g. for a seminar speaker, you can change the url to be firstname-lastname-seminar

Additional guidelines based off type of Post:

Press/Achievement posts:

• • Catchy title relevant to article or achievement
    • Good → MLML professor creates only land based seaweed business in the USA  
    • Bad → MLML’s new aquaculture facility in The Californian
  • Catchy one-line description that can be on front page with links to key player and/or article
  • Summary of article (150-250 words)
    • Provide some details about the article or achievement
    • Provide information so the general public can understand even if they do not click on the article link
    • Include links to labs and faculty involved
    • Properly cite source material

Example:

Event Posts:

• • Title should be in the following format:
    • "Title of Talk/Event - Month DD, YYYY"
  • Add post to "Upcoming Events" category
    • After the event, change the category to "Events"

Example:

Seminar Posts:

• • The Visiting Scientist collects information about the speakers and adds them to a google sheet schedule and a google drive folder 
  • Use previous Seminar posts as a template
  • Content to include
    • Talk title is title of post: "Title of Talk - Month DD"
    • At the top of each page include: 
      • Presenter name, position title, university or institution affiliation
      • Moss Landing Marine Labs Seminar Series - Month DD, YYYY
      • Hosted by the xxx Lab (link this to the lab's webpage)
      • MLML Seminar Room, 4pm
      • (or Watch it Live here!) <- only if they agree to be publicly streamed
      • Open to the public
      • ~More info coming soon!~ (until you receive the abstract and more info)
    • Brief talk abstract (~100-200 words)
    • Link to speakers website
    • DO NOT include post date (confusing with two dates)
  • Put post in "Upcoming Seminars" category
    • After seminar, change the category to "Seminars"
    • Create the last seminar's post first - this way they display in chronological order

Example:

Thesis Defense posts:

• • Front desk will request talk title, abstract, and photos 2-3 weeks before a thesis defense
  • Content to include:
    • Post title: "Thesis Defense by [NAME] - Month DD"
    • At the top of each page include:
      • Talk title
      • Presenter name
      • Lab affiliation (link to lab's webpage)
      • Date and Time
      • MLML Seminar Room
      • (or Watch it Live here!) <- only if they agree to be publicly streamed
      • ~More info coming soon!~ (until you receive the abstract and more info)
    • Brief talk abstract (~100-200 words)
    • DO NOT include post date (confusing with 2 dates)
  • Put post in "Upcoming Thesis Defenses" category
    • After defense, add to "Thesis Defenses" category
  • Note: having a website post is not a requirement; the students are busy and likely stressed about the talk, so don’t bombard them with emails to send info.

Example: