EVENT: Rent-a-quote? Think tanks, media and strategy

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Nick Scott — 5 Comments

Following our successful launch event last April, WonkComms are bringing you the third in a series of events on think tank communications.We are delighted to have a top line-up of speakers for: Rent-a-quote? Think tanks, media and strategy.

Thursday 5 September 2013
10.00am-12.00pm
Institute for Government, 2 Carlton Gardens, London SW1Y 5AA
Refreshments will be provided

Speakers:
Beatrice Karol Burks, Head of News, Citizens Advice (@beatricelucy)
John Coventry, UK Communications Director, Change.org (@johnnycov)
Huw Evans, Director of Operations, Association of British Insurers (@huwevans71)
Kiran Stacey, Political Correspondent, Financial Times (@kiranstacey)

Chair:
Richard Darlington, Head of News, IPPR (@rdarlo)

Gaining exposure for policy ideas and analysis in the media remains a core activity for most think tanks. Media coverage is an essential tool both to reach decision-makers and to communicate with new audiences. For their part, journalists rely on think tanks to provide them with concise, well articulated analysis and perspectives.

But in an era of 24-hour news, poorly resourced journalism and the continued rise of social media, are think tanks being strategic enough in planning media interventions? Do too many think tanks see media coverage as an end in itself? How can think tanks time their media outputs more effectively? And do digital channels mean they can bypass the traditional media coverage approach altogether?

About Nick Scott

I am Digital Manager at UNISON. My core area of interest is in digital tools and content strategy. As Digital Manager at the Overseas Development Institute, I developed a digital strategy awarded Online Strategy of the Year at the Digital Communications Awards 2012. I have written extensively on digital strategy and monitoring and evaluation, primarily on how they can support research communications with impact. I am also a founder of WonkComms, a popular community of practice for think tank communications staff. In this capacity, I am a member of the blog editorial board, commissioning and editing blogs and regularly formulate, speak at and chair events held at various UK think tank HQs in London and more widely.