Alexander Westenberg

Here's one of those rare things - a universally positive story for news organisations. So I had to share, and it highlights some of the innovative approaches media have taken to connect directly with new audiences. There's also lessons here for public bodies and devolved / local government seeking new ways to engage and interact with citizens. WhatsApp introduced Channels just over a year ago (https://lnkd.in/e7SQnCJX). It's a one-way broadcast tool that's garnered 500m+ active users, albeit I'm a bit of a laggard (the feature is buried behind the Updates tab in the bottom navbar). But a number of media organisations have quietly built up seriously big audiences on the platform (check out the Press Gazette image below; sorry, you may have to zoom in a little but it's a PNG so is legible). WhatsApp is a Meta company, not always the friend to news publishers. It started deprioritising news a few years back and tensions continue between Facebook and publishers. But Press Gazette has highlighted (https://lnkd.in/eFrqEPRN) how major news organisations are tapping into WhatsApp’s massive user base & building up a powerful platform for news consumption. (Shout out to Belfast Live as an early adopter, Reach plc were one of the first outlets to quickly spot the potential to bring local news directly to their readers). WhatsApp Channels is a clear example of how adaptable news organisations can be in finding new ways to engage their readers. But also devolved government and public bodies can draw lessons and consider where this is worth bringing into their comms mix. UK Government has been on Channels since January (https://lnkd.in/ehUbAHwH) and uses it to push useful public information messaging on health, childcare and so on. It's a really interesting way to present relevant information directly to users, and would be a very useful tool for devolved departments and local councils as a means to improve disseminating important messages and updates to the citizen. There's great scope for organisations tasked with distributing public interest and valuable public information to explore this as another comms option.

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𝐇𝐃𝐑 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄 – 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐤 Scott is a Literary Studies PhD student whose research offers new readings of the novels of West Australian author Randolph Stow (1935-2010). Bringing together scholarship from the field of settler colonial studies and emphasising Indigenous perspectives, Scott’s analysis of Stow’s work is led by a consideration of the politics and poetics of memory, reflecting Indigenous conceptions of memory as living, transgenerational and subsisting in the present. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳? I am attracted to the humanities because they allow me to make my life a study of words: their power to evoke emotion, to make history present, to construct alternate realities, and ultimately to reveal truths about what it means to be human. Studying literature is a profound and deeply moving journey that offers moments of self-reflection and encourages consideration of how our culture has developed and the possibilities for its future. I cannot think of anything more important or valuable than the gift of understanding that the literary expressions of humanity offer. In a society where political and philosophical division is increasingly prevalent, studying the humanities is of vital importance to achieve understanding and compassion between people. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘋𝘙 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦? Firstly, when selecting a research topic, trust your gut and choose something you are really interested in because this will help propel you forward if you experience setbacks. Secondly, seek challenges and anticipate rigorous testing of your ideas, but don’t forget that your research should also challenge and build upon existing scholarship. Finally, make sure you connect with other students and attend events in your school. Working towards your PhD may feel like a lonely pursuit at times, but you are not alone. Your fellow students and the academic staff are always there for you. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘜𝘞𝘈? I had an amazing experience while completing my undergraduate degrees at UWA, which is why I chose to pursue my PhD here. Without exception, I found the academic staff in the School of Humanities to be brilliant, inspirational, highly motivated, and professional. I am delighted to continue my academic journey within this energising and exciting setting. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘏𝘋𝘙 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦? I most enjoy having the luxury of spending my days reading. I love experiencing the constant buzz of encountering new ideas and having my ideas challenged. I also appreciate the supportive and encouraging environment in the English and Literary Studies department. Being around inspirational peers and academics has opened my eyes to the possibilities that a life in academia offers.

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A worthwhile read about the state of play in the Australian traditional publishing scene. It's tough out there, but its also VERY opaque. Having been in the non-traditional publishing space for over 30 years some of the arcane ways the traditional industry operates is pretty dysfunctional, somewhat precious and downright difficult for new authors. These and other factors is why so many authors have turned to self publishing. https://lnkd.in/gGUVvnVj Michael Hanrahan Lesley Williams Andrew Griffiths Anna Featherstone Sally Collings Kath Walters #businessbooks #bookcoaching #selfpublishingaustralia #selfpublishing #bookmarketing #booksales

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Love this article and Dan Navfield’s thoughts. My 2 cents (views my own) are as follows. SMEs in government consulting deliver value for money* and high quality advisory services. Not all consultancies are built equal. Smaller and more niche = personalised service, value adds galore and lots of reach back into on-demand talent pools. It’s a scaleable, bespoke, targeted service offer model that actually 👏🏻 delivers 👏🏻 measurable 👏🏻 value 👏🏻. Think less ‘handing over your project and program delivery’ and more ‘working with a trusted partner who understands your business’. *But we still need some budget, yo. Cossie livs et al… 🫡 #governmentconsulting #smeconsulting #smes #consultantisntadirtyword #midnighthoughts #cantsleeptoopassionate

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Writing copy is the last thing I do. Let me explain. My client Pots & Pithoi is well known for its fine terracotta pots. King Charles is a fan, and has a collection of the pots at Highgrove. All the top garden designers use them. But their brand was not pulling its weight. Working alongside the brilliant designer Jack Watkins at Studio Renaissance, here’s how I used my writing to reinvent this prestige brand. 1. Clarity: I stripped away clutter to articulate a confident and elemental creative direction. 2. Charisma: I wrote a refined strapline and statement to make an impactful first impression. 3. Consistency: I implemented a new architecture and taxonomy to bring calm to a chaotic range of over 300 pots. 4. Character: I created a distinctive tone of voice. 5. Copy: Finally, I wrote high quality copy that draws on all these previous steps, and therefore can’t be imitated (or produced by AI). You can read the full case study on my website. Let me know if you’d like to talk about how I can do this for your brand. https://lnkd.in/erJvBN7d #gardendesigner #websitecopywriter

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