GovComms: The Future of Government Communication

Todd Wheatland is no stranger to the world of content; he’s had leading roles in strategy for agencies such as Isentia, KellyOCG and King Content as well as a variety of boutique operations for over a decade.

As an early player in the game, this week Todd shares with us the insights he’s gathered from years of experiences and provides you with the tips you need to become the best content communicator you can be.

If you’re lucky enough to be heading to Content Marketing World in Cleveland, Ohio next week keep an eye for him and say g’day and tell him you enjoyed the episode!

Discussed in this episode

• Case study: how content drives change management
• Thinking outside the box and breaking the rules to achieve the best outcome
• How to measure stories
• The power of the media to reach your greater audience
• Using data and measurement to create content that grabs attention
• Skills from the private sector that are applicable for public
• Insights into what to expect from Content Marketing World 2018

You can find Todd Wheatland no LinkedIn here.

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Supporting an audience of over half a million people is a gigantic task, especially when you have such a diverse crowd following you. For the University of Sydney, this is the exact challenge they face daily; students, international visitors, alumni and academics all coming for a unique experience.

The secret of managing it all? Jenna Bradwell, the one woman social media team.

This week on GovComms, Jenna Bradwell, their Social Media Specialist, takes you behind the scenes of the University of Sydney’s social media ‘team’ and shares with us how she alone manages their entire social presence.

Sometimes less is more; a must listen for all social media managers and directors.

Discussed in this episode:

• Building a social media skillset
• Importance of knowing your audience and how to find out
• Ways to get your whole organisation involved in content creation
• How to control and listen to a large, diverse audience
• Creating a strong social media presence, mastering one channel at a time
• Skipping social media tools and measuring yourself, FOR FREE

Find contentgroup on Twitter.

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This week on GovComms we explore the biggest problems being faced in government communication, but more importantly, we provide answers to solve them.

Through a research partnership at the Australia National University and the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, contentgroup has been developing an evidence-based methodology to solve governments biggest communication challenges.

Designed to increase capability internally, this special episode takes you behind the scenes of contentgroup and how we plan to change government communication.

Discussed in this episode:

• The biggest challenges in government communication
• The purpose of effective communication in the public sector
• From Sydney to Vienna, how our methodology went international
• Restoring trust one government at a time
• The power of storytelling in communication and policy development

You can learn more by visiting our website or getting in touch [email protected].

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As communicators, we should all know by now that internal communication is the beating heart of any healthy organisation. Because without it, everything falls apart. And though that may sound scary there are plenty of tools available to introduce smooth internal communication to your department or agency.

This week on the podcast we explore the implementation of enterprise social media, or large-scale internal communication, with Rita Zonius, an international leader in internal communication.

With a rich career in the bank sector, Rita was the Head of Internal Communication for ANZ for more than a decade. One of her biggest achievements was the implementation of an enterprise social network to connect over 60,000 ANZ employees around the world.

After leaving ANZ in late-2017, Rita has become a leading consultant in the field and recognised internationally for her work in enterprise social networking. Under the alias The Enterprise Social Engineer she now works with brands around the world assisting them with all their internal comms needs!

Discussed in this episode:

• What is enterprise social networking and why is important?
• The increased efficiency from implementing internal social networks
• Measuring risks and challenges in internal communication
• Training your team in teamwork, not technology
• Perfecting internal content, creating an internal narrative

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This week on GovComms we talk with Caroline Fisher,an Assistant Professor in journalism at the University of Canberra.

Caroline is a member of the News & Media Research Centre and co-author of the annual Digital News Report-Australia. Caroline is the recipient of the 2018 Anne Dunn Scholar Award and the 2017 Early Career Researcher Excellence Award in Humanities and the Creative Arts. In 2014 and 2017 Caroline was the recipient of a Vice Chancellor’s Award for excellence in teaching.

Today we discuss how to navigate changes in the digital landscape and what that means for communication professionals in government. 

Discussed in this episode:

• The changes in the way Australians communicate digitally
• News literacy and consumption continues to rise in Australia
• How to overcome the fear of not knowing what works
• Social media remains as a popular tool for news consumption
• The new skills for government communicators to engage citizens
• Expanding your presence to assure you reach your whole audience
• How to give citizens the information they want

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This week on GovComms we talk with Neryl East, an experienced government communicator, about how to successfully and positively navigate change in our industry.

Starting her career in the late 1990s, Neryl has encountered many dramatic shifts in communication. Following the introduction of the internet and social media, Neryl was an early advocate for governments using online tools to connect directly with citizens and residents.

Today she shares tips with you on how to navigate such changes and approach your communication strategies to producing the best outcome.

Discussed in this episode:

• Why the ability to write efficiently is the key tool to online communication
• How to use curiosity to your own advantage
• Tricks to keep up with changing digital trends
• The connection between traditional media and modern communication
• Don’t be reluctant to try new tools or technology
• Seeking inspiration from local governments

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Recently David presented at ComCAN, an event by the Department of Finance that explores communication challenges faced in the public sector and ways they can be solved.

Held quarterly, ComCAN is an opportunity for government communicators to network and work together to coordinate efforts in the communication space; this includes digital communication, social media and advancements in communication technology.

In this episode of GovComms we’re excited to share with you David’s presentation, providing you with the tools and information to assist you in navigating government communications in the 21st century.

For more updates on government communication find contentgroup on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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This week we bring you a special episode of GovComms; a free masterclass on how-to pitch to the media. We provide you with the tools and know how to approach the media confidently.

No stranger to this practice, David spent ten years pitching stories as a journalist and several more doing the same thing from the other side. In this masterclass he shares this perfected approach and how you can now successfully get your story and your message in front of the media.

Be sure not to miss any future masterclasses and subscribe today.

Discussed in this episode:

• The key steps to creating a great media pitch
• What makes a good story?
• Common mistakes to avoid when preparing your pitch
• The right questions to create a successful media strategy
• How to build a strong relationship with the media

For more updates on government communication find contentgroup on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Damian Carmichael is from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science and leading in the development of a framework that will change how the Australian Government operates. Supporting the 2016-2018 and 2018-2020 Open Government National Plan, his role is to design and implement tools that will enhance public engagement and participation in policy development and delivery.

According to Damian, step one was to understand what problems that currently underly the Australian Government. His advice for such a large task? Google it. Find the experts of the field, find the papers that explore these problems and track these changes over time.

What Damian and his team found was the growing complexity in Australia’s political landscape specifically in policy and trust. So, what has Damian done to combat this? Find out in this week’s episode as David explores his four-step approach to engage citizens.

Discussed in this episode:

• The importance of initial research
• Looking to local and state level governments to find the answer to federal level problems
• A four-step approach to engage citizens and restore trust
• Breaking through barriers, whether they are culturally or capability based
• The Ontario Provincial Government Engagement Framework
• Tracking the prototype product
• What this means for the future of the Australian Public Sector

Make sure to rate and subscribe!

If you'd like to learn more, get in touch via Twitter and LinkedIn.

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In 2015 Peter Timmins led the establishment of the Australian Open Government Partnership Network, an organisation designed to assist the government in their approach to open governance. As part of the multilateral Open Government Partnership, Peter shares with us behind-the-scenes of our involvement with the partnership and Australia’s open government future.

With a career spanning close to 30 years as a freedom of information lawyer, Peter has played significant roles in assisting government departments, both state and federal, in law and policy. These efforts were recognised in 2017 and was awarded the Press Freedom Medal by the Australian Press Council.

Discussed in this episode:

• The history of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and how Australia became involved
• What the OGP is aiming to achieve and how Australia is moving towards those goals
• The direction Australia is taking and shortcomings in our approach
• How we can perfect this approach and using champions to do so
• The use of storytelling to engage citizens and build trust in the community

Learn more about Australia's involvement with the Open Government Partnership.

Learn more about the Australian Open Government Partnership Network.

Make sure to rate and subscribe.

If you'd like to learn more, get in touch via Twitter and LinkedIn.

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