Strategic Communications Building Cohesion | Key Roles, Partnerships, and Improving Media Handling
Explore the importance of strategic communications in fostering community cohesion. Learn about key roles for elected members, partnerships, and enhancing media interactions to create a cohesive community. References included.
Strategic Communications Building Cohesion | Key Roles, Partnerships, and Improving Media Handling
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Presentation Transcript
Communicationsbuilding cohesion 19 October 2009 Hilary Kitchin Policy Analyst
Communications need to be strategic • ‘Whole community’ corporate approach • Adopt a strategy • Decide what works for your authority • Have a practical impact - structured • Implicit / explicit knowledge • Linking comms to cohesion strategies
Staff are a major resource • Convey priorities & expectations • Variety of mechanisms • Measuring penetration • Formality and informality • Trade union contribution
Roles for elected members • Ward councillors are trusted by the public • Incorporating a role for ward councillors • Cabinet members as key drivers • Bipartisan approach • Cabinet responsibilities • Lead members and the media
Partnerships are slowly changing • Inter-relating with civil society • Value of cooperative infrastructure • Strategic work with forums • Permanent and reactive relationships • Early stages for LSP sub-groups • Police as key partners
Limits of myth-busting • One component of a multiple strategy • Pre-emption v reaction • Need to be proactive will always arise • Has some strategic value in early stages of adopting a broader strategy • Beware, can be counter-productive
Improve handling of the media • Objectives – sense of place – human interest • Local press and radio • High priority due to impact of negative reporting • Editorial expectations • Persistence • Being approachable
References Communicating Cohesion: report and summary http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=1568757 Building Cohesive Communities: What frontline staff and community activists need to know http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/buildingcohesion