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Publication Number: FHWA-RD-03-074

Communications Reference Guide

Chapter 6—Other Publications

There are a variety of documents that each office may use to communicate with a specific audience, including booklets, technical flyers (TechBriefs, report summaries, and product application notes), brochures, and fact sheets. Refer to chapter 4 and the GPO Style Manual for additional editing and style requirements.

Booklets

Figure. Booklet cover. This is a figure of a Federal Highway Administration booklet cover. Figure. Booklet cover. This is a figure of a Federal Highway Administration booklet cover. Figure. Booklet cover. This is a figure of a Federal Highway Administration booklet cover.

Purpose

To communicate detailed summaries, achievements, and/or recommendations from research projects and programs.

Target Audience

Transportation managers, decisionmakers, and executives.

Style

  • Usually fewer than 40 pages.

  • Publication types include guidebooks, executive summaries, and annual reports.

  • Full- or two-color cover with up to two-color text pages.

  • Design should include eye-catching graphics that illustrate the project.

  • Foreword signed by the office director and a standard disclaimer notice at the bottom.

Technical Flyers

Figure. Flyer sample. This is a figure of a Federal Highway Administration flyer. Figure. Flyer sample. This is a figure of a Federal Highway Administration flyer. Figure. Flyer sample. This is a figure of a Federal Highway Administration flyer.


There are several types of flyers, including TechBriefs, Application/Technical Notes, and Product Briefs.

Purpose of a TechBrief

To summarize an experiment, TechBriefs provide results, data collected from analysis, or findings and recommendations.

Purpose of Application/Technical Notes

To provide technical information and benefits about an FHWA product or research findings used by an FHWA customer.

Purpose of a Product Brief

To provide additional information on the availability of a product, product briefs provide concise technical information about the product.

Audience

Transportation managers and technical staff.

Style

  • Two-color publication.

  • Usually two to six pages.

  • Signature colors assigned to RD&T offices and teams.

  • Standard information about the research program area and key resources.

  • Back matter information about availability, keywords, and distribution.

Marketing Brochures

Figure. Brochure sample. This is a figure of a Federal Highway Administration marketing brochure. Figure. Brochure sample. This is a figure of a Federal Highway Administration marketing brochure. Figure. Brochure sample. This is a figure of a Federal Highway Administration marketing brochure.

Purpose

To create awareness or attract interest in a specific project or program, brochures communicate the benefits of a research, technology, or service.

Audience

Transportation decisionmakers, senior executives, managers, and technical staff.

Style

  • Two-color or full-color publication.

  • Visually appealing graphics and layout attract awareness and interest in a subject area.

  • Brochure may provide information or a call to action that asks the reader to act in some manner for additional information, a service, or participation in a program.

Fact Sheets

Figure. Fact sheet sample. This is a figure of a Federal Highway Administration fact sheet. Figure. Fact sheet sample. This is a figure of a Federal Highway Administration fact sheet.

Purpose

To provide concise, factual information about a specific topic such as a facility, laboratory, technology, or expertise.

Audience

Transportation decisionmakers, managers, technical staff, and students.

Style

  • Concise, informative, two pages (one page back and front).

  • Usually one or two colors.

  • Text and graphic layout have a similar design, if part of a series.

Table 5. Booklets, flyers, brochures, and fact sheets—what to submit.

One Color Print (.doc)

Two- or Four-Color Print (.doc and .qxd)

Web Site Only (.doc)

Submission Requirements for Booklets, Technical Flyers, Brochures, and
Fact Sheets from COTR

X

X

X

HRTM Service Request Form

X

X

X

Microsoft Word file of document

X

X

X

Microsoft Word file of 508 captions

X

X

  

FWHA Distribution Form and either labels or a Microsoft Excel file with names and complete addresses

X

X

X

Tables, charts, graphs in separate native file formats (Microsoft Excel files for tables and .jpg or .tif files for graphic and CAD files)

X

X

X

Equations in .jpg file formats
   

X

Low-resolution illustrations and figures in .jpg, .tif, or .bmp file formats

X

X

  

Photos—35mm slides or prints

OR

Original drawings, illustrations, renderings, graphics, etc.

OR

Digital graphics with high resolution (300 to 1260 dpi or greater), and at least 4 by 6 inches or equivalent pixel sizes in separate native file formats

X

X

  

If you provide graphic layout, provide GPO Form 952

X

X

X

PDF file of the document after final edit

X

X

  

If you provide graphic layout, submit the Adobe Quark, Adobe Illustrator, or Adobe PageMaker file after the files have been edited. Include all text, font files, graphic files

Do not submit second-generation or previously printed materials as graphics. Do not use correction fluid, tape, photocopies, or artwork that is fuzzy, dark, or faded. Refer to "Attachment 3—Designing and Formatting Your FHWA Publication," in the FWHA Publications and Printing Handbook. Do not submit CAD drawings; export them to a .jpg or .tif format.

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