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Adip-in resource for engaging thepublic in marine issues
Dive straight in!
 
1
Introduction 2Good communication –The basics3
•Communication checklist3•Tips for good writing4•Communicating in person – 5good presentation skills•Resource list6
Planning and running an event7
•Tips for organising an event7•Case studies: Events aimed at8specific audiences•Finding a venue8•Considering Health and Safety9•Running the event9•A case in point: Kent Wildlife 10Trust’s Marine Week•Resource list11
Planning and running13consultations
•Common mistakes13•What makes good consultation?13•Case studies: Consultation methods14•Dealing with difficult people16•Acase in point: The National Trust: 17Mullion Harbour managementcommunity consultation•Resource list18
Working with schools19
•How to engage schools: planning19•Working with children and the law20•How to engage schools: delivery20•A case in point: MarLIN and Dove 21Marine Laboratories ShoreThing Project•Case studies: Schools activity ideas22•Engaging teenagers23•Resource list24
Working with the media26
•Tips for engaging the media26•Writing a press release27•Case studies: Media hooks28•Giving interviews28•Resource list29
Working with businesses
30•Tips for engaging businesses30•Case study: The green tourism 31business scheme•The benefits of engaging business32•The benefits to business32•Acaseinpoint: BMF and RYA: 33The Green Blue Project•A case in point: Devon Wildlife 34Trust’s wildlife training workshopsfor accommodation providers•Resource list35
Raising the funds36
•Resource list36
Pictureperfect – Photography 38and artists
•Resource list38
Training40
•Resource list40
Key organisations for 43marine information
Contents
Dive straight in!
Adip-in resource for engaging the public in marine issues
©CoastNet 2006 The Gatehouse, Rowhedge Wharf, High St, Rowhedge, Essex CO5 7ETTel/Fax: 01206 728644 Web:www.coastnet.org.ukCoastNet is an international networking organisation that works with allcoastal interests to promote the exchange of ideas, information andexpertise to find long term solutions to coastal problems that benefit all.Our mission is to safeguard the world’s coast and those communities ofpeople and wildlife that depend upon it for their future.All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrievalsystem, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.Compiled and edited by: Erin Pettifer and Lesley SmeardonWith contributions from: Dee Chadwick, Theresa Redding, Pat Stitt, Rachael SmithDesign: Cottier&SidawayThanks to all those who participated in the public engagement workshops run byCoastNet between Januaryand March2006, from whichalarge part of the informationcontained in this book is drawn.The opinions expressed in this document are not necessarily those of CoastNet. Theresources included here are suggestions for practitioners and are not necessarilyendorsed byCoastNet.
Acknowledgement
The workshops and subsequent outputs have been possible due to the generoussponsorship and support from The National Trust, the Wildlife Trusts’ South EastMarine Programme, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Countryside Agency and theCOREPOINT Project.
The printing of this publication has been made possiblewith a grant from The Wildlife Trusts.
 
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Between January and March 2006 CoastNet held a number of public engagementworkshops aimed at marine and coastal professionals. This booklet and its contents arebased on the outcomes of those workshops and aims to provide a practical, introductory,dip-in resource guide on good communication when engaging the public on coastal andmarine issues. It is aimed to help specifically those marine and coastal professionals whohave a public engagement remit but whose main area of expertise is not in communication.The booklet is not exhaustive although it builds on the expertise gathered from over 100delegates representing almost 70 organisations who attended the workshops. Thisknowledge comes in a number of forms: useful tips, case studies and a huge body ofonline and paper resources to help communicate with and engage the public.Acomprehensive report from the workshops including full transcripts of the 150 casestudies can be found on CoastNet’s website in the publications section:www.coastnet.org.uk.
Introduction
Introduction
Good communication really does comedown to three things: clear thinking, goodpreparation and getting the basics right.Obvious right? Yes, but knowing it anddoing it are two different things. The key togood communication is to put into practicewhat everyone knows. Whether you’recommunicating face to face, on paper, in apresentation or by electronic means, asimple checklist can help remind you ofthe things weall knowmakesense butoften forget when faced with time andresource pressures.
Communications checklist
Prepare well
Preparation is very underrated but it’s thekey to good communication.
Get the basics right
Prepare the ground first and think aboutthe:•
what
(message/aim)•
who
(audience)•
when
(timings and resources)•
how
(the wayto communicate yourmessage to the audience within your timeand resource constraints).
Be clear of your objective
Clear intentions make for clearcommunication.
Know your audience
Understanding your audience is key.Whatever you do, don’t assume knowledge.
Be realistic
Forget the fantastic – go for something youcan achieve successfully given yourtimescales and resources.
Ditch the jargon
Don’t leave interpretation open to chance.Communicate in a common languageand you’ll keep your audience with you.
Involveall stakeholders
Don’t get so far down the road withoutensuring everyone who needs to, has hadachance to comment.
Team up with other organisations
Other organisations mayhaveaspecialismto bring to your project. Theymaybe ableto link you with the audience or helpbridge the problems of timings andresources for example.
Remember the review
Areview now will pay dividends forthe future.
Don’t lose sight of your objective
Goalposts change so much, it’s easy to getembroiled in detail and forget the biggerpicture. Be clear of your original messageat all times.
Good communication –the basics
”Think like a wise man but communicatein the language of the people”
William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)
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