Folks;
The Georgian Bay Biosphere has almost finished their Current State of Eastern Georgian Bay report. CBSM 101 says sending out copies of this report and making brochures is not the way to go. It's not that the Conservation Committee overseeing this project is against CBSM they are unfamiliar. In order to suggest alternative public awareness options I would like concrete examples of alternative activities organizations have engaged in, ideally with some results info support the choice. In addition, they are looking at hosting a Public Symposium sometime next year to convey information and introduce/increase people's participation in sustainable behaviour. Any experience you have (do's and don'ts) would be appreciated. I did search the database before I wrote this but my search methods didn't turn up what I was looking for - found other great stuff though:-).
Thanks to all
Gloria Marshall
Project Coordinator
Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve
(705) 746-9468
Public Awareness Campaign Experience
Sign in or Sign up to comment
Several years ago I participated in a workshop on Strategic Communications conducted by a group called Action Media in the Twin Cities (Minnesota, USA). It was an amazing workshop for a policy wonk like me who didn't have a clue about framing issues or structuring campaigns to accomplish something specific, rather than just dispense information. Their approach most definitely complements CBSM to promote positive change. Several groups I volunteeer with have hired Action Media to help frame issues such as global warming, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, etc. and to develop various types of campaigns. Some of their valuable work is available on their website -- www.actionmedia.org. Unfortunately, the 5 steps of strategic communications that any group has to define step by step when developing a campaign aren't laid out as succinctly on their website as they were presented in the workshop I attended. Briefly they are the following:
1. What needs to happen. They said this was the hardest thing to do.
2. Who can make it happen.
3. What story do they need to hear.
4. Who should they hear it from.
5. How can we tell them.
While doing a google search to find Action Media's web page, I found some other really valuable sites dealing with Strategic Communications. Based on this, I would recommend spending some time figuring out specifically what you want to result from releasing this report, i.e. all the actions you want different people and entities to take and then structure your campaign accordingly working through the next 4 steps for each thing.
Good luck.
Nancy Adams
Hi Gloria
They thinking has moved away from a hope that public awareness campaigns will automatically lead to behaviour change and much of the Doug Mackenzie-Mohrs writing gives us many examples of why that is the case. The first thing your project needs to define is what you are trying to achieve with the reports publications is it simply raising awareness? (in the hope that people feel moved to go an implement some solutions or change behaviours themselves) or are there specific behaviours which you are trying to increase e.g. recycling or use of sustainable transport or decrease e.g. private car use, energy consumption. Once you have defined what you are looking to achieve your search for examples that work can be more focused. Hope that helps.
Regards
Janet MacDonald
Atlas Communications & Media Ltd
p: 09 817 5884
m: 021 589456
f: 09 816 5888
e:[email protected]
www.atlascomm.co.nz
PO Box 60-093, Titirangi.
Auckland New Zealand