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 as template or a post template from the WordPress Resources webpage
- To learn how to use an existing post or template use these instructions
Remember writing for general public, not MLML community

All posts must follow these guidelines in addition to their specific guidelines:

Include who posted (‘by’ line)
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 names to their pages on the website
- If you mention a lab, link to that lab
- Link 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 → possibly include relevant quote
  - Provide enough information so that the general public can understand even if they do not click on 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:

- Visiting scientist should request title, talk abstract, and photos and add to Website Post Worksheet
- Content to include
  - Talk title is title of post: "Title of Talk - Month DD, YYYY"
  - At the top of each page include:
    - Presenter name, position title, university or institution affiliation
    - Moss Landing Marine Labs Seminar Series - Month day, year
    - 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"

Example:

Defense seminar posts:

- Front desk will request talk title, talk abstract and some photos ~ 2-3 weeks before a thesis defense
  - Can send them a previous defense post as an example
- Content to include:
  - Talk title is title of post: "Title of Talk - Month DD, YYYY"
  - At the top of each page include:
    - 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
    - Open to the public
    - ~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 probably fairly busy and stressed out about the talk, so don’t bombard them with emails nagging them to send the info.

Example: