Thread by @vegardbeyer

THREAD: I won the thing! My 2018/19 final thesis on communications strategy in the public interest, in collab with @ClubOfRome, where I analysed (un)successful campaigns and pulled together useful psychology & strategy, just won the @HSNiederrhein Senate Prize in Innovation.

Big thanks for inspiration, and for their output I referenced on env., econ, and communication, to @Wupperinst @hanshaake @UweSchneidewind @ProfTimJackson @jasonhickel @jrockstrom @KateRaworth @campaignstrat @bjfogg (I recommend following) and esp. Prof. Matthies @WBGU_Council

Previously published in Index02, our "past 5 years' best works selection" catalogue @designkrefeld, the thesis resulted in the creation of a German-language guide synthesising the most important/useful on strategic communication. You can find it at vegardbeyer.de/leitfaden

Rather than focusing on the fun subtleties of sophisticated techniques, my idea was to stick to what most often seems to *go wrong or be limiting factors* in #scicomm and the campaigns that our surviving and thriving as a species now depends on (and primarily so, IMO).

Progressives call on everyone to accept climate science, but they very often don't accept the science of communication and the mind #commsci. Still operate based on Information Deficit view, still don't use clear language or pay attention to values and people's immediate concerns

You can’t just present the facts and have everyone erase significant circuitry in their brains. We have deep-seated & simple mental metaphors for thinking of "the economy" as growing or shrinking, "the environment" as separate from us, and communication as "transmission of facts"

Changing those patterns of thought takes work and time. Progressives need a much better communications system: Such a system needs serious comms research institutes, training facilities, a system of spokespeople in every electoral district, and bookers to get them into the media.

Meanwhile, conservatives do accept and use #commsci in furthering their agenda, which robs common people of their health, freedoms and future. In US, a new wave of progressives is beginning to get better. But eg few env'ists can even respond to neoliberal framings of "freedom"

Many 100s of millions of $ of climate philanthropy go into a "supply of policy", reports, conferences, but we don't lack policy, we know what to do! What's underfunded is demand. "Comms" that isn't for fundraising, but persuading, action. Task #1 today. Other side does this lots

Spending on "comms" is mostly <1% of budgets. Asking for 1 part-time person for 2 wks in a project proposal, to write a press release and respond to media inquiries, doesn't cut it. It takes longterm operational funding for comms, framing, media & organizers. Other side does this

Communications needs study and professionals. There is a propaganda war ongoing and one side too often doesn't even notice. The engagement of so many people who truly care about a common future is spent on producing plans that few have the chance to understand, want and support

I want to highlight @CenterInterest, where this academic discipline of Public Interest Communications is being pushed forward, and whose work I cannot believe still isn't known by everyone who cares about protecting citizens from dangers that nobody can face alone.

Also, thanks to @jacques_ck @postgrowth @KTrebeck @WeAreGCM who at various points in 2017-2019 gave support, presented me with important ideas or showed me sources/tools that enriched this work.

@NathanJRobinson and @IronicProfessor get it right all the time, I love their work.

Talk to me about Public Interest Communications.

Talk to me about framing, storytelling, strategy, objectives, impact evaluation, funding, mass organizing, team building, citizen lobbying, the importance of env./EcolEcon experts, and why we don't need to "raise awareness".

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