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

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: