We’re living in an ‘Information Age’ which makes achieving cut through for communications campaigns challenging. But every now and then I come across a campaign that really does stand head and shoulders above the rest. This week, it was the IFAW’s appeal for koala mittens that caught my attention.
Koala wearing mittens to protect its burnt paws. Credit: IFAW
If there’s one group of animals that has got it tough, it’s fair to say it’s the amphibians. Over the last decade populations across the globe have been decimated by an indiscriminate disease called chytrid fungus. And as if that wasn’t enough, a group of diseases wiping out amphibians in Spain has hit the headlines, as well as reports of a skin-eating fungus which is now threatening salamanders and newts in Europe. Ironically, the skin-eating variety is thought to have come from Asia and been spread by the exotic pet trade. It turns out that our love for amphibians is actually what’s killing them.
Fire salamander
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has remained a headline story over the past few months as international health agencies and effected countries battle to contain the disease. As of Monday 18 August, it had claimed more than 1,200 lives. Communicating information about how Ebola is spread is key to curtailing the outbreak. You would think that having more communication channels available than ever before would make this task easier. But does being better connected mean the spread of misinformation is more rapid? And how can we, as communicators, tackle misinformation being spread about our own messages?
When we communicate a message, we ideally want to inspire some form of action. But getting people to act is difficult. Campaigners often try to shock people into leaping up from their sofas. But lately it seems that we have become somewhat shockproof. Could ‘doomsday’ messages be to blame? And is it about time that we delivered some good news?
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