LET'S COMMUNICATE
Agriculture Communication Newsletter
June 2005, No. 114

Contents

• Videoconference Scheduling
• News Release Guidelines
• Write the Right Word
• Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
• New Digital Platemaker Improves Printing Quality
• Add Video to Illustrate Messages

Videoconference Scheduling

When scheduling a videoconference, start by contacting the remote sites to check on room and equipment availability. When all remote sites are secured, fill out the NDSU Ag Research and Extension Meeting and Event Scheduling Form at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/agcomm/videoconf/videoconferencing.html  . Then forward this completed form as an e-mail attachment to Gail Hokenson, Agriculture Consortium Scheduler, at Gail.Hokenson@ndsu.edu  . Gail will schedule your event on the IVN bridge and fax you a confirming Reservation Detail Report. Please check this report for any errors, and notify her if any changes are necessary.

Gail Hokenson, 231-7881, Gail.Hokenson@ndsu.edu

News Release Guidelines

Ag Communication has general guidelines for news releases prepared and disseminated by e-mail to all North Dakota news media, as well as selected regional and national news media and NDSU staff who ask to receive them.

Education is the primary goal of these news and feature releases. However, Ag Communication also will do releases about NDSU faculty, staff and students, and events and activities sponsored or co-sponsored under the Vice President for Agriculture and University Extension.

Here are some basic rules:

• Send Ag Comm a draft news release or provide the information (who, what, where, when and why).
• Provide information on an upcoming event at least three weeks in advance.
• Send information on awards, competition results, etc., as soon as possible, but no later than a week after the competition ended or awards were presented.
• Upcoming events should be educational in nature and open to the public.
• All news releases going out from Agriculture and University Extension faculty and staff must receive prior approval from Ag Comm, University Relations or Research, Creative Activities and Technology Transfer.

If you want to be on Ag Comm's e-mail list to receive news releases, contact Gail at (701) 231-7881 or ghokenso@ndsuext.nodak.edu.

Ellen Crawford, 231-5391, ecrawfor@ndsuext.nodak.edu 

Write the Right Word

The Internet has spawned a whole new language. Here are some tips on using the words correctly.

Internet - It starts with a capital letter in all uses.

e-mail - Always use the hyphen. The same rule applies to e-commerce, e- business, etc. The "e" is capitalized at the beginning of sentences; otherwise it's not.

Web - It also starts with a capital letter in all cases.

Web site/Web page - Both are two words and Web is capitalized.

webcam, webcast, webmaster - These terms are one word and web is lowercase except at the beginning of a sentence.

Internet addresses (URLs) - When mentioning a specific Web site, include the URL for it. Starting with http:// is not necessary unless the address does not contain a www. For example, "For more information on food safety, visit the NDSU Extension Service Web site at www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/food.htm." "Check out the NASA Mars Web site at http://marslander.jpl.nasa.gov." Also, try the URL to make sure it works as you've written it.

Online - It's one word (no hyphen) in all cases when referring to the computer connection. Uppercase it at the beginning of a sentence; otherwise it's lowercase.

Ellen Crawford, 231-5391, ecrawfor@ndsuext.nodak.edu 

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts can save you time, especially in word processing and spreadsheet programs. They help prevent excessive menu searching and allow you to continue your work without having to constantly pause and use the mouse.

Many people don't realize there are keyboard shortcuts to make using Microsoft Windows a little faster.

For example, to view help in the program you are using, instead of using your mouse to click on the help menu, just press F1.

Having trouble using your mouse and need to shut down your computer? Either use the Windows key or CTRL + ESC. This will open your start menu, which you can then navigate with your arrow keys. Using Windows XP? Press the Windows Key + L to lock your computer when leaving the office.

While there are many different shortcuts available, most people will find only a fraction of them useful for what they do. You may even be surprised by just how many keyboard shortcuts you already know!

For a list of Windows keyboard shortcuts, visit Microsoft's Web site at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q126449  .

Jerry Ranum, 231-6395, jranum@ndsuext.nodak.edu 

New Digital Platemaker Improves Printing Quality

The digital platemaker recently installed in the print shop allows us the flexiblity to accept jobs from customers on a disk as well as hardcopy format. Screened photos were extremely difficult to reproduce with our old platemaker. We now can go from computer to plate and drastically improve the output quality of our printing plates. This new technology has helped us save money by eliminating having to send jobs that contain fine screens off campus to be plated. Call to learn how the print shop can provide you with cost-effective printing.

Monte Kelly, 231-7410, mkelly@ndsuext.nodak.edu

Add Video to Illustrate Messages

Are you looking for a different way to get your message across, educate or train others? One way to spice up a presentation, class or training session is to use video. Depending on your situation, video can inspire a new level of attention from your audience. Your video options can vary from a simple PowerPoint with a little video to a highly complex interactive DVD. Just call the video unit in Ag Communication, and we'll help guide you through the whole process.

Bruce Sundeen, 231-7953, bsundeen@ndsuext.nodak.edu