UC spent $158,000 on campaign to counter critical state audit

As reported by the Sacramento Bee:

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In the wake of a scathing state audit released in March, the University of California mounted a $158,000 publicity campaign to dispute claims that its admissions policies had disadvantaged resident students.

The campaign included a report rebutting the conclusions of the audit; digital ads on websites, Facebook and Twitter; and sponsorships on public radio stations throughout the state, according to documents obtained by The Sacramento Bee.

Dianne Klein, director of media engagement and strategy at UC’s Office of the President, said no state or tuition revenue was used for the campaign. She said it was paid for out of the “endowment cost recovery fund,” which collects a small percentage of endowment earnings for administrative purposes, including projects to enhance the university’s fundraising efforts.

“Negative tends to stick in the public’s mind much more than positive news,” she said. “Rather than let a blemish take over the whole state, so to speak, we felt it was necessary and good to get out a positive message.”

Klein added that …

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