NDSU Extension Service Quarterly Advertisement Guidelines

Approved by Extension Leadership Team, 2003

Updated November 2006

According to N.D. law 15-12-12 (see below), the NDSU Extension Service must run an advertisement each quarter in every official county newspaper to publicize the services available.

A committee of Extension staff works with Agriculture Communication staff to brainstorm ad topics, draft the words and review the layout. The committee now includes:

            ElRoy Haadem                      Al Ulmer                     Ron Smith     

Rita Ussatis                           Debb Pankow           Sheila Vander Wal

Julie Hassebroek                 

The committee and Ag Communication usually provide two options from which counties may choose. The ads are e-mailed to the county chairs during each quarter, and the county newspapers, through the North Dakota Newspaper Association, will be notified. The schedule is:

Winter – January/February/March – paid by NDSU

Spring – April/May/June – paid by counties

Summer – July/August/September – paid by NDSU

Fall – October/November/December – paid by counties

The goal is to have broad educational programs marketed consistently across the state. However, if a county feels the ad options aren't appropriate for their county or they have a localized topic they would rather advertise, these guidelines are to be followed:

* Ads should focus on or revolve around a single topic. The advertisements should market a particular ongoing educational program, not just list upcoming events or available publications. Marketing can include involvement in an educational program or the impact of a program on local constituents.

* Ads should have a visual point of focus. The fewer words the better. Keep artwork and typefaces simple.

* Ads should be targeted to an audience and have a specific goal and a call to action. What do you want people to do after seeing the ad? Call your office, go to the Web site, support local Extension programming, balance their checkbook or prune their trees?

* Proposed local ads must be sent to Ag Communication advertising coordinator Rich Mattern and your district director by the first day of each quarter: Jan. 1, April 1, July 1 and Oct. 1. This proposal may be a detailed ad or just a sketch. If a sketch is provided, Ag Communication will develop a camera-ready ad.

* The district director and Agriculture Communication staff may:

• accept the ad as is and send it through the N.D. Newspaper Association process
• make suggestions for you to modify the ad
• make modifications and design the camera-ready ad with your input and approval
• work with you to modify the ad concept

To fulfill the law's requirement, ads must be 3 columns (about 6 1/2 inches, but that depends on your newspaper) wide and 10 inches high. The Extension logo must be prominent with "NDSU is an equal opportunity institution" below it. Your county office identification also must be included.

If you have questions about this process, contact Rich Mattern at 231-6136 or richard.mattern@ndsu.edu.

15-12-12. North Dakota state university services and publications – Publication of information. Each county commission shall, jointly with the county Extension agent, publish quarterly in the official county newspaper an advertisement, approximately 3 x 10 SAU in size, describing the free publications available from the cooperative Extension service of North Dakota State University and the services available through the county Extension office. The cost of the advertisement, based upon the legal advertising rate provided in section 46-05-03, must be determined in consultation with the North Dakota Newspaper Association and must be shared equally by the county and the cooperative Extension service of North Dakota State University. The county auditor shall furnish the advertisement to the newspaper from information furnished by the county Extension agent.