Time to get started

Communicating effectively requires clear messaging to a clear audience. Add a complex setting such as sustainable development and you magnify this challenge.

The most successful communication answers these questions;

• Who do you need to communicate your work with?
• What action do you want your audience to take?
• How do those people receive information in a way that it will inspire them?
• How can you articulate your messages in a way that will inspire your audience to take the desired action?
• What distribution platforms or networks can you use to bring your audience and messages together?
• How can you create engagement, i.e. timely response from your audience?

Learning journal activity

1. Watch this short video showcasing the power of social and mobile – the social media revolution.
2. Visit the website of The Story of Stuff; choose one of the videos and consider how clear the messages are and how concisely they’re communicated.
3. In your journal:
   • Answer the questions at the top of this page to identify your key audiences and messages. Then consider what media channels you might use to connect the two.
   • Reflect on how you might use new media as a channel to get your message to your audience.
   • Critique the video you chose on The Story of Stuff website.