Slugger Consults

First session: Tuesday 30th March 2010

Belfast workshops: Book now – only 12 places per session!

Politics will never be the same again. Journalism has changed. Individual bloggers with few resources can often set the agenda and keep a story rolling in ways that no-one envisaged a few years ago. Elected politicians have also had to adjust to new levels of scrutiny and disruption. Pre-planned campaigns can be disrupted to destruction in hours by an effective ‘viral’ message.

Promoting a different kind of representation and campaigning

A different kind of campaigning is emerging. Politicians are beginning to behave differently to adapt to new accountabilities. Understanding these changes – and having the skills to take advantage of them – is the key to successful campaigning and representation.

In this session, you will learn about …

• Principled use of social media – the politics of transparency
• Creating boundaries – not all demands for increased participation are in the public interest
• Understanding the new news cycle – how social media has effected the mainstream
• Getting your message out quickly – managing hostile commentary
• Switching from ‘broadcast’ to ‘receive’ – how listening can improve your policies without compromising your principles
• Building your capacity to manage or join communities – and how to interact with them

Who is it for?

• CEOs and senior managers
• communications professionals
• councillors
• MLAs and their assistants
• NGOs & Third Sector professionals
• public sector managers
• policy specialists

You will leave this one-day session (10am – 4pm) with a clearer understanding of the way the campaigning and representation landscape is changing. It will provide an introduction to the aspects of social media that you will need to take part in the new, faster exchanges that are increasingly dominating public affairs. You will also leave with an outline of the technical skills that you will develop over the coming months.