Media Highlights: October 19 – November 1, 2021

VIU students and employees in the news. 

Top 10 News Stories

1. The Indian Express. How hungry sea otters affect the sex life of sea grass. Dr. Jane Watson, Biology Professor Emeritus, and alum Dr. Erin Foster, co-authored the study this article is based on. Reach: 42.7 million.
2. Times Colonist: Plans for student housing at VIU in Nanaimo going to public hearing, amid low vacancy rate. Reach: 659,000.
3. CFJC-TV (and NanaimoNewsNow): ‘There is so much hope and love:’ Indigenous literacy program for Elders unveiled at VIU. Article produced as a result of VIU media release. Reach: 421,000.
4. Nanaimo News Bulletin: Developer wants to more than double number of beds in student housing project. Reach: 178,000.
5. Nanaimo News Bulletin: View Gallery exhibit reflects on humanity’s responsibilities toward nature. Reach 174,000.
6. Nanaimo News Bulletin: VIU hockey team wins home opener. Reach: 174,000.
7. Nanaimo News Now: New 117-bed student housing complex in Nanaimo passes first hurdles. Reach: 173,000.
8. University Affairs: After they call you ’Dr.’: advice upon entering an academic career. Article by Dr. Kathleen Bortolin, a curriculum, teaching and learning specialist in VIU’s Centre for Innovation and Excellence. Reach: 153,000.
9. Education News: Community Organizations Invited to Learn about United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Reach: 55,200.
10. Vancouver Island Free Daily: Vancouver Island University community radio station celebrates 20th anniversary. Reach: 47,300.

VIU News

• VIU News: 5 Question With Debra Hellbach, Manager of the Centre for Seafood Innovation at Deep Bay Marine Field Station.
• VIU News: WorldVIU Days Returns with Official Unveiling of Campus Community Mural. Story picked up by Oceanside News. Nanaimo News Bulletin is attending.
• VIU News: Community Organizations Invited to Learn about United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Story picked up by Education News Canada.
• VIU News: Alum of the Month: Sandipan Debnath. Story picked up by @GetYourMBA and Responsible Business & CSR. 
• VIU News: VIU Community Planning Students Host National Conference in November.
• VIU Blog: Alum takes high school students under her wing. Article will be an NSERC Impact Story next month.

Top-performing Broadcast Story

• CBC Radio Victoria picked up the VIU News Release (see above) about the unveiling of a new campus mural during WorldVIU Days as part of a “happening around the Island” news roundup. Reach: 85,900 people. 

VIU Student Pulse

• October 20 Edition: Open rate: 81%

• Most-clicked link: Corn Maze & Bonfire

Social Media

• Top Tweet: Our Tweet promoting the October Engaged Citizens Speaker Series continues to be our top-performing post, reaching more than 3,500 people. 
• Top Facebook post: Our post about VIU alum Samuelle Simard-Provencal’s recent bird banding demonstration at the Nanaimo campus reached 5,649 people.
• Top Instagram post: A story promoting the deadline to apply for bursaries was seen by 2,249 people. A fall leaves on campus picture reached more than 4,500 people.