Getting creative with impact Prof Pamela Cox University of Essex
Telling social science stories on TV news and current affairs economics, politics, health, criminology… have the edge? features and documentaries social history…has the edge? connection with audience’s experiences and emotions a driving narrative, a story to tell light & shade, hope & struggle clarity, exposition, explanation
Shopgirls: clips opening titles every picture tells a story Sainsbury’s flexible workers contributors as experts
5 golden rules respect the public believe in the public value of your research have a strong story to tell tell story in ways that connect with public – curiosity, surprise, shame, shock, sympathy, love… keep it simple but build up to complexity
Where to begin? build a profile key words on your social media tweets, blogs, think pieces, short talks… – The Conversation The Conversation – Guardian: Comment is free Guardian: Comment is free – TEDx TEDx – History and Policy History and Policy Working Women’s Charter … & find your voice(s)
learn to write in a new style… …accessible, intelligent debate
learn to visualise… New York Times – A game of shark and minnow Financial Times – Martin Wolf
build contacts and be ready to pitch specialist correspondents independent production companies data release calendars – ONS release calendar ONS release calendar – Gorkana Gorkana … but be ready to respond!
build your audiences… Year 1 Twitter Feed Blog Think piece Year 2 YouTube i/v Vodcast Conf paper Year 3 Book review Media article Year 4 Thesis Journal article Book proposal Think tank associate
Pamela Cox University of Essex drpamelacox