Grassroot activists are often up against it – taking on institutions with resources and connections well beyond their own. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have advantages they can use. In fact it’s often activists who have to bootstrap that…
Blog Archives
Perceptions of think tanks
Last month we published our research on public perceptions of think tanks in the US, Forging the Think Tank Narrative. Since then we have had the honour of being invited to a number of think tank summits and round-table events…
Communications professionals: fight back with evidence
When was the last time you had to push for communications budget? Or convince colleagues that trying a different – or heaven-forbid innovative – format was a good idea? Being a communications professional sometimes feels like going into battle. Well,…
A more fun way to communicate an internal strategy
At the National Housing Federation, we’ve recently updated our social media strategy. As the digital world is ever changing, our strategy needs to evolve too. It clearly sets out how we use social media as an organisation and how it…
Tagged with: business change, communication, digital communications, internal communications, social, social media, think tanks
Posted in Opinion
Posted in Opinion
The wonkcomms crystal ball: Five things 2015 will bring for think tank communications
This time last year Nick, Richard and I recapped over the year in wonkcomms, looking back at thirteen tools think tank communicators used to promote and publicise their work. I was struck by the sheer diversity and creativity of the…
Tagged with: communication, digital publishing, election, media, PDF, strategy
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted in Uncategorized
Why Think Tank Review?
Think tanks exist to find the best ideas for the good of society. How can they do that if no-one reads what they are producing? Or if their only metric of success is the amount of coverage they generate? Think tanks are much more than publishers, but reports are one of their principal outputs – and right now they are not working. This is the problem Think Tank Review was created to solve.
Tagged with: communication, publications, reports, research, research communications, think tank review
Posted in Opinion
Posted in Opinion
Powerful storytelling: how comms stole the show
What revolutionary digital communications tool had a communications specialist at the Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) in Kolkata employed that had single-handedly creating the biggest event buzz in a roomful of 100 academics and activists at the most prestigious university in India? A camera and a 20 year-old technique. That’s what.
Tagged with: communication, communications, digital communications, emotional communication, messages, multimedia, narrative, online, photography, stories
Posted in Guidance, Opinion
Posted in Guidance, Opinion
EVENT: Wonkcomms teams and skill sets: what does the future hold?
The last three WonkComms events considered the ‘why’, ‘what’, ‘how’ and ‘where’ of think tank communications. This event turned its attention to ‘who’ – the human resources think tanks can call on for their communications, what skills are needed to progress in the sector and how to develop them.
Tagged with: communication, communications, digital communications, events, human resources, staff, strategy, think tank, think tanks
Posted in Events
Posted in Events
Using a rota to manage the @MRCCTU twitter account
I’m writing this blog with trepidation, as I’m very aware that I’m not a Twitter expert, and the @MRCCTU account is tiny in comparison with others. A couple of months ago there was some discussion on the WonkComms LinkedIn group…
WonkComms 