Elections 2008
Sun 6th Jul 2008
How to run / Publicity
On this page
- Introduction
- Candidate publicity design guidelines
- Location of publicity
- Design submission guidelines
Introduction
Candidate produced publicity
The manifesto and answers you produced for Part 5 will be used to compile a candidate’s profile booklet. This detailed information is used as a reference source and allows students to study each candidate in depth. But the primary means of getting noticed by the wider student population is your publicity, which will be covered in this document.
Candidates have a great deal of freedom to create whatever publicity as they see fit. Some may choose to create a brand which succinctly expresses their unique qualities and suitability for the job. Others may choose a clever or witty slogan combined with an image which they feel makes them memorable. Whatever is chosen, the theme will be repeated across various different formats distributed all over campus.
All candidates have an allowance of 30 credits with which to publicise themselves, which can be used to purchase any combination of the following:
- 50 A4 Manifestos - 10 Credits
- 25 A3 Posters - 10 Credits
- 50 A4 Posters - 10 Credits
- 200 Single Sided A6 Flyers - 10 Credits
Each candidate can spend up to - but not over - their publicity allowance on a combination of the above. For example, you may choose to produce 150 Manifestos, or 600 A6 flyers, or 25 A3 posters with 100 A4 posters. You should think carefully how your publicity will be distributed and where it will be placed to achieve maximum impact and longevity. Any issues arising from this should be directed to the Deputy Returning Officer.
Candidate videos
Candidates will be offered the opportunity to record a one minute video presentation to outline their main manifesto points for showing during question time and uploaded to upsu.net. Freedom will be given to express their selves in the manner of their choosing, but keep in mind that the videos for each position will be shown back to back at the outset of question time to an audience of students who will then fire questions at the candidates. Recording of these videos will take place immediately after the close of nominations (see Part 2: Schedule of Dates for the details).
Union produced posters
The Students’ Union will produce a standard poster showing the names and pictures of all candidates immediately after the close of nominations. These posters will be circulated to prominent noticeboards around campus to inform students of the forthcoming elections.
Candidate publicity design guidelines
Each candidate is allowed one design for posters (A3 or A4) and one separate design for flyers. If you wish, you can use the same design for both items, but candidates often find that what looks good at A3 (297mm x 420mm) does not necessarily look as effective when reproduced at A6 (105mm x 148.5mm).
Once handed in, the Union Copy Shop will oversee the creation of all materials as indicated by the candidates. Each candidate will have their design reproduced on coloured paper, the colour determined by the position you are standing for (For example, all presidential candidates on pink paper).
All candidates will receive their election publicity back at the same time, see (Part 2: Schedule of Dates). The materials will be marked with a stamp indicating its authenticity. Any materials found on display without this authentication will be removed and action taken against the candidate.
The following guidelines must be observed when creating publicity:
- Designs should be black and white only since they will be produced on a laser printer / photocopier. Candidates are asked not exceed 50% coverage of black ink in their designs.
- Candidates must not use photographic reproductions of their face in their publicity.
- Copyright laws will be obeyed at all times.
- Any publicity which mentions or shows another candidate upon it will be declared invalid.
Candidates are asked to hand in all finished artwork together with your Nomination Form as soon as possible so that reproduction can begin. However, you have until the close of nominations to do so (see Part 2: Schedule of Dates).
All publicity has to be approved by the Returning Officer or Deputy Returning Officer before it can be printed.
No campaigning may take place until the publicity has been approved, reproduced and released.
Location of publicity
The placing of publicity materials is the responsibility of the candidates. Publicity may be placed on any University notice boards, providing that they do not cover any existing University information. Candidates should try and cover as many student focused areas as possible to ensure maximum coverage of their campaign. Full details of acceptable sites will be discussed at the candidates meeting (see Part 2: Schedule of Dates for the details).
In addition, the following guidelines must be adhered to:
- No candidate may put up more than one poster on any one notice board.
- No publicity may be put in the vicinity of polling stations during polling.
- Any publicity found in the vicinity of polling stations after the commencement of voting will be removed and not replaced.
- For reasons of safety, no poster may be placed on floors, windows, steps or paths.
- Do not put posters on Department/course information boards unless you have permission from a member of departmental staff.
- Publicity not pinned to the correct boards will be subject to removal.
Design submission guidelines
What you should submit
All flyer and poster designs must be submitted as a hardcopy, and wherever possible as an electronic file as well. Posters and flyers printed from an electronic file will be much higher in quality than those reproduced from a hardcopy.
All original hardcopies must have the candidates name, position, and type clearly written on the back. E.g. “Joseph Bloggs, President, Flyer”
Electronic documents should likewise be titled with the candidates name, position and type, e.g “Joseph Bloggs President Flyer.doc”.
Electronic submissions
Due to the many varieties of image editors, it has been decided to accept posters and flyers in a limited number of file types. Designs created in image editors (such as Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro etc) can be submitted in the following formats:
- File type: TIF, BMP or JPG
- Resolution: 200 - 300dpi
Designs can also be created and submitted in either Microsoft Word (.doc) or Microsoft PowerPoint. (.ppt)
Dimensions
However you decide to submit your design, they should be in the following dimensions.
Posters designs should be submitted as A4 (210mm x 297mm). Keep in mind that photocopying will result in a 10mm border all round, i.e. all content is contained within an area measuring 190mm x 277mm.
Flyers designs should also be submitted as A4 (to the dimensions above) and they will reduced in size and cut by the Copy Shop.
Electronic media
Submission of electronic documents should be made on an CDrom that is readable by a PC. Macintosh users should ensure that a correct format is selected, and that file extensions are added to document names as above.
Floppy disks and USB sticks are acceptable if access to a CD writer is not available.
