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the need for a new social capital agenda in our communities

December 16, 2016 Darren Caveney

There's been a debate sparked about how PR responds to the post-truth environment. The issue of social capital - the glue that keeps communities ticking over - has arisen.

by Andy Green  

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In strategy + planning Tags post truth pr, andy green

unawards16 - the movie

December 14, 2016 Darren Caveney

The UnAwards16 was a record-breaker and a litle bit special.

Here's a cool short movie which captured the day.

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In training + development, resources + good stuff Tags unawards16, unawards movie, comms2point0, communications comms pr public relations digital marketing industry awards uk

the comms that made us fear strangers and trust those in positions of trust... where did that get us?

December 14, 2016 Darren Caveney

A tidal wave of historic allegations of sexual offences has emerged. First Saville. Now football. One experienced former police communicator with experience of cases of sexual assault looks back at period public information films on 'stranger danger'... and then looks at those in positions of trust whose trust is now being questioned.

by Christine Townsend

A number of have people have, unsurprisingly, commented on the developing stories surrounding the allegations of historic sex abuse of young footballers spanning many decades. Having previously worked in police communications, I'm often asked why the police in this period seemingly failed so many by not catching these alleged paedophiles.

It certainly seems that crimes of yesteryear - such as Saville - that have only in recent times come to light would never happen now and that it was a different time when many turned a blind eye. Those who face allegations have strenuously maintained no wrong doing and they are yet to go through the courts. However, it is important to try to look at the context in which these horrific crimes happened and perhaps learn from how things were done 'in the good old days' in terms of communications.

I have long since harboured a fascination with the public information film. They shaped my childhood and my memories of being sat in a chilly school hall watching a wobbly film on a projector with a concerned looking WPC are undoubtedly shared by many who were born in the seventies.

The themes were wide and varied and also echoed on one of three TV channels - not playing on building sites, look left, look right, look left again, when you hear the siren for nuclear fall out, hide under a door, be seen, be heard, do this, do that, chuck a damp tea cloth over a burning chip pan - and most importantly - stranger danger (the fear of which was only to be surpassed by the eighties 'AIDS, don't die of ignorance' campaign).

Who can ever forget Charly Says?

We were told by a well meaning and reasonably funded public body that strangers were evil and we should by no means approach or speak to them - let alone be tempted by puppies and sweets and be taken in by the lie that our mums would really send a bloke in donkey jacket to pick us up from school even though we had no idea who he was.

And herein lies the problem.

The fostering of fear of the stranger only served to give us the unfounded and now, so painfully untrue notion that all family and friends were safe and to be trusted. We were told that if we were approached by a stranger that we should tell someone we trust like a policeman (the irony now not lost on anyone dealing with historic sex abuse cases).

At the time, BBC Crimewatch was just gaining popularity and my secret viewings as a child only confirmed that young girls and women were murdered by strangers. Horrific identikit pictures of Bad Men in newspapers made sure I knew who to swerve after school. There was never any suggestion that someone we knew would do such awful things to children. We wouldn't be believed.

It wouldn't be such a leap then to consider that a contributing factor as to why there are only now massive swathes of these awful allegations coming to light is because we were told things like that just didn't happen. The Government were telling us that, quite literally, only strangers were the danger.

Many of these films gave me nightmares as a small child and to be remembering them some thirty years later means that they certainly had an impact, but whether that's for the right reasons or not is questionable. It is worth considering whether as professional communicators in the public sector (and any industry that has a responsibility to keep people safe, healthy and reasonably well-adjusted) that we have a greater responsibility to really consider the far-reaching impact of campaigns and the messaging.

That's not to say that things haven't greatly improved. It's impossible to tell what factors in thirty years from now will make people look back and laugh at our curiously quaint ways of communicating. We can, however, reflect and see where things worked and where they didn't.  We do this after every campaign, but isn't it worth looking back further to intelligently inform our comms decisions?

The narrative has now so clearly changed seemingly and hopefully for the better, so the delayed reporting  is not surprising. The passage of time has by no means made things easier, but hopefully the progressive attitude of society towards sex abuse has perhaps enabled the investigative process to take place whereas in days gone by, pen would never have even been put to paper.

There are certainly so many other factors that have played a part in every single awful report of a sexual offence but by considering messages, languages, imagery and ultimately, the motivation behind a public information campaign, we have an amazing opportunity to protect people not just through a month long drink drive campaign or when its flu season, but for generations to come.

Christine Townsend (@ctownsenduk) is the founder of MusterPoint.co.uk - a social media and media management system built for the public sector and emergency services. She worked in crisis communications for fifteen years in the emergency services and central government.

Picture credit: Jobs for Felons Hub / Flickr

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In strategy + planning Tags sexual offences and comms

case study: video can change the way you park

December 13, 2016 Darren Caveney

Video is becoming more powerful and influentual. One council's clip helped encourage people to park their cars better.

by Andrew Daniels

If you want to change people’s parking habits, would you really think of trying video? Well, it’s worked for us!

You may not know Chorley but here we have a car park right in the centre of town and despite often being busy, people would rather drive round and round than use one of the many other car parks just a short walk away.

Throw in the fact we’ve taken roughly 30 parking spaces for our Christmas attraction and we really are in trouble with people!

To coincide with the arrival of the ice rink this week we’ve opened our staff car park to public use all week (previously it was only open to the public at weekends). This provides an extra 55 spaces just a stone’s throw away from the main car park.

So, how do we explain to people how close it is and encourage people to park there? It was when we were looking at the car park to see what signage was required that we had the lightbulb moment. It’s simple really, film the walk, time it, speed it up and make it into a snappy 30-second video so people can see for themselves.

 

As with more and more things these days social media is the platform to use and particularly with this topic as town centre parking is never far from being the main topic of debate on the Facebook group Chorley Then and Now, which has 18,000 members.

Throw a bit of sarcasm in our post, attach the video and away it went. We posted at 6.40am on the day the car park opened and by 9am we had more than 9,000 post views (coincidentally Tuesday is when our local weekly paper is out so we’d had more views than they sell newspapers before the shops had opened).

Fast forward 48 hours and we’d had 35,500 post views, 21,200 video views and dozens of comments. More importantly we had plenty of motorists using the car park.

Andrew Daniels is communications and events manager at Chorley Council.

Picture credit: Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / Flickr.

 

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In campaigns + media Tags video case study local government council

who do you trust?

December 7, 2016 Darren Caveney

Trust. Often talked about but hard to achieve, and even harder to retain. Trust levels with politicians, chief executives and journalists in the UK are now extremely low. So who do we trust?

by Panel Writer Sarah Lay

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In strategy + planning, campaigns + media, resources + good stuff Tags Trust. Often talked about but hard to achieve and even harder to retain. Trust levels with politicians chief executives and journalists in the UK are now extremely low. So who do we trust? by Panel Writer Sarah Lay, comms2point0, pr public relations comms communications best practice and learning

7 reflections on the unawards16

December 5, 2016 Darren Caveney

You know that feeling when a big project comes to an end. It’s a good time to reflect on the highlights as well as what you might tweak next time.

by Darren Caveney

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how it feels to win a lifetime achievement unaward

November 29, 2016 Darren Caveney

A name stands feet high in stark white against the black of a cinema screen, Take That plays loud over the PA as the audience applauds. Someone whoops their approval. The lights glint off the engraving on the medal being handed over. A name booms loud along with the words Lifetime Achievement Winner…

by Sarah Lay

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unawards16 - your guide to the big day

November 27, 2016 Darren Caveney

The end of any year is a time for some quiet reflection - what went well, what didn’t. Reflection is a good thing. But so is a great big celebration. And the #UnAwards16 is a day to celebrate all that’s brilliant about our industry and your hard work and achievements this year.

by Darren Caveney

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In resources + good stuff, training + development Tags unawards16 - your guide to the big day, communications, pr marketing and digital awards, industry awards uk, darren caveney organiser of the unawards

a chance to get some help with building your digital products

November 25, 2016 Darren Caveney

Want some support building brilliant digital products, and the chance to meet some likeminded folk?

by Hannah Hookway

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In digital + social, resources + good stuff Tags a chance to get some help with building your digital products, localgov digital, gds, hannah hookway, comms2point0

it’s not a sprint, but it is a race

November 23, 2016 Darren Caveney

There is something about a breaking crisis that’s thrilling. Perhaps it’s the mystery of the unknown which keeps us intrigued, thirsty for more details. Or maybe the initial state of shock keeps us hungry for answers and information. Whatever it is, when an issue breaks it’s consuming for everyone – particularly those responsible for responding.

By Kate Rawlins

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In resources + good stuff, strategy + planning, training + development Tags crisis communications I have seen a number of organisations practice their ability to respond to an issue, planning for emergency communications, comms2point0, kate rawlins of social simulator, unawards16

it's democracy, people. now do as you're told

November 23, 2016 Darren Caveney

A quarter of Americans born since 1980 believe that democracy isn't the best form of government.

by Rich Elwell

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In campaigns + media, research + evaluation, strategy + planning Tags communicating elections, comms leasond from 206 elections, rich elwell one black bear, A quarter of Americans born since 1980 believe that democracy isn't the best form of government

a care campaign for good

November 22, 2016 Darren Caveney

Training and staff development seems to be disappearing from some public sector organisations. But this approach can cause teams to miss out as this new case study highlights.

by Lindsay Coulsen

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In training + development Tags social marketing, care

firepro day one: trust exists in the frontline not in its leaders and 9 other pearls

November 22, 2016 Darren Caveney

Some of the most innovative communications in the public sector is coming from a sector faced with huge change. The annual FirePRO event in Birmingham saw plenty to talk about on day one.

by James Morton

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In campaigns + media, resources + good stuff, strategy + planning Tags fire pro, fire comms, lessons for fire comms, birmingham, conference

don’t know what a webinar is? here's your chance to find out

November 22, 2016 Darren Caveney

Webinars can be excellent ways of developing your knowledge and skills in small, accessible chunks and from the comfort of your office or favourite armchair. Not tried one yet? Here’s your chance…

by Emma Howard

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In training + development, digital + social, campaigns + media, resources + good stuff Tags what is a webinar?, GovDelivery webinar, engaging with customers online, comms2point0 post on webinars

data is great but… it’s our instinct and creativity which sets us apart

November 22, 2016 Darren Caveney

Data. We can’t move for it these days. And of course it has a place and it’s important. But are we in danger of letting it stifle our creativity and instincts?

By Darren Caveney

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Tags Data. We can’t move for it these days. And of course it has a place and it’s important. But are we in danger of letting it stifle our creativity and instincts? By Darren Caveney, comms2point0, communications best practice

why i have the best job in the world - announcing the #unawards16 shortlist

November 21, 2016 Darren Caveney

Sometimes, in life, you have the opportunity to create something beautiful from nothing.

by Darren Caveney

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In campaigns + media, digital + social, research + evaluation, resources + good stuff, strategy + planning, training + development Tags why i have the best job in the world - announcing the #unawards16 shortlist, the best uk comms, best uk pr marketing and digital work, comms2point0, darren caveney organiser of the the unaward16, darren caveney creator of comms2point0

and the winner is… why we love the unawards

November 19, 2016 Darren Caveney

Most of us have experience of awards in some way, shape or form, either through work or maybe via a sport or hobby. Here’s what awards mean to the official partner of the UnAwards16.

by Dave Worsell

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In training + development, resources + good stuff, strategy + planning Tags dave worsell, govdelivery, unawards unawards16, offical partner of the unawards16, comms2point0

an emergency or big changes ahead... fire comms run towards it

November 16, 2016 Darren Caveney

Some of the most innovative comms work in the UK today is from fire and rescue people. It's true. It's also a sector that is undergoing radical change. But as change takes shape fire comms are determined to run towards it.

by Leanne Ehren

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In strategy + planning, training + development Tags fire comms, change, firepro

finding purpose in a comms career

November 14, 2016 Darren Caveney

We all should have purpose. But have you found yours in your career? Take a read. Have a think.

by Amy Watt

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In training + development Tags common purpose in comms pr, comms careers advice

unawards16 public vote open - choose your faves now

November 13, 2016 Darren Caveney

Here it is, the moment you've been waiting for. The UnAwards16 public vote is OPEN.

by Darren Caveney

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In training + development, resources + good stuff Tags best communications pr marketing and digital awards and work in the uk, darren caveney, unawards, unawards16, best practice uk cmmunications, creative communicators ltd, public vote open in unawards
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