Turning Insights into Influence: Elevating the Clearinghouse’s Leadership

The National Student Clearinghouse, a trusted source for education data and insights, sought to increase visibility for its Research Center and position its subject matter experts as go-to voices in national conversations about higher education trends, enrollment, and workforce readiness.

Beginning in 2019, Story Partners developed and executed a comprehensive communications strategy designed to amplify the Clearinghouse’s expertise and expand its reach across key audiences, including policymakers, educators, journalists, and institutional leaders.

Key Components of the Strategy Include:

• Media Briefing Amplification
  Story Partners elevates the Clearinghouse’s regular media briefings by crafting compelling narratives around new data releases and coordinating targeted outreach to national and trade media. These efforts ensure that each briefing is not only well-attended but also widely covered.
• Expert Positioning & Interview Placement
  We proactively pitch Clearinghouse subject matter experts to top-tier outlets, securing interviews and commentary opportunities that highlighted their insights on enrollment trends, student mobility, and postsecondary outcomes. This tailored media pitching helps establish the Clearinghouse as a leading voice on education data.
• Thought-leadership Content Development
  To further showcase the Clearinghouse’s thought leadership, Story Partners develops an ongoing series of blog posts that explore key findings, contextualize data, and demonstrate the real-world impact of the Clearinghouse’s services. These posts served as cornerstone content for digital engagement and media outreach.

Results: Widespread and In-Depth Visibility

Story Partners has secured widespread media coverage for the National Student Clearinghouse in prominent national outlets, including The Washington Post, Inside Higher Ed, and Higher Ed Dive. In addition, through strategic pitching and expert positioning, Clearinghouse leaders were featured in blogs, interviews, and op-eds that showcased their insights on key education trends. Our team has also amplified the Clearinghouse’s voice through targeted social media efforts, helping to highlight the organization’s expertise, services, and impact across the higher education landscape.