Fergus Pitt

Libraries are such an important touch point for media literacy in Australia - and it's such a joy to be working with fellow cultural institutions and crack team of researchers in this space! Stay tuned, first research pieces are due to drop mid-year (and speaking as someone with a sneak peak, you'll not want to miss) #LibrariesTransform #MediaLiteracy #Library #LIS #Libraries https://lnkd.in/gcn-CD-p

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"Recommendation 7: The committee recommends that the Australian Government establish a Digital Media Competency Fund... While this fund should have a strong focus on the digital media literacy of young Australians, it should also fund initiatives aimed at improving the digital media literacy of other groups at risk of being taken in by mis- and disinformation, including older Australians and those in regional areas." Excellent recommendation for media literacy week - and good to see the Australian Library and Information Association submission quoted in the report. Read the full Second interim report: digital platforms and the traditional news media here: https://lnkd.in/gCpXAtCE #LibrariesTransform #MedialiteracyWeek

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Very excited to read the report from the Untapped Research project. This ambitious (maybe slightly crazy) ARC linkage which the Australian Library and Information Association was a partner on, actually set up a publishing house, negotiated rights reversion for out of print Australian classics and then turned them into ebooks loaned through public libraries. The findings included: 1. There was substantial public demand to borrow these titles  2. There was substantial public demand to purchase these titles  3. There was no evidence that e-lending cannibalised book sales (and some evidence it may actually have increased them) 4. Library promotional efforts influenced circulation 5. Reversion can open up new streams of income for authors 6. Authors received economic and non-economic benefits through participation in the project Read the report - you'll enjoy it: https://lnkd.in/gUxZkyRs The report was launched at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Futures Summit - more on that to come! #LibrariesTransform #Libraries #eBooks

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Understanding your audience makes communicating with them a thousand per cent easier, I reckon. What's the point in writing a communications strategy, yarn, or even email if the intended audience has no interest or investment in the topic? I mean, you can, but I'm not sure this is the most effective way of connecting with your audience. Now, please bear with me as I link this thought to some of my colleagues' fantastic work. On August 1, SEC Newgate Australia will discuss the latest insights from our research team's Mood of the Nation briefing. These reports, and briefings, give a clear snapshot of the big issues affecting Australia. Previous editions have found the nation's mood is declining… so what does that mean for your audience? If you're interested in understanding Australia and hopefully better understanding your audience, I reckon joining this webinar is a no-brainer.   Here's a few nuggets from our latest report: 🏗 Two thirds of Australians backed the federal government’s Future Made in Australia Act. ⚡There’s softening support for climate action and renewables. 👵 Older Australians (65+) rated their quality of life highest and say they are significantly better off when it comes to their mental wellbeing and financial situation. 

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Introduction by Croakey: The ‘cost of living crisis’ has become an entrenched framing of political debate in Australia and other countries, affecting political and policy outcomes. But is it a potentially unhelpful framing? Would there be better policy outcomes for health if we focused instead on addressing the ‘inequality crisis’? Marie McInerney investigates these questions, and more, ahead of the 2024-2025 Federal Budget (and please join us in using #HealthBudget2024).

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#policy is what's on the menu for the #netheropodcast this week as I chat with Bob Ward from the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change & the Environment - appropriate enough as we have the #kingsspeech later. Check it out on Future net zero now. #podcast #netzero

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My client's response to the Federal Budget's new impact investment initiatives is featured in OnImpact Media. Impact Investing Australia says these initiatives highlight crucial support for social enterprises and measures to address entrenched disadvantage. Read more about how these investments will foster positive social change. #impactinvesting #socialimpact #socialenterprise https://lnkd.in/dZdjibwQ

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Impact measurement is increasingly recognised as a core requirement for good governance. This is especially true for the not-for-profit (or for-purpose) sector, where boards have a responsibility to report to funders, donors, clients and other stakeholders on the extent to which their organisation is achieving its stated mission or purpose. Measuring impact provides that assurance to funders. An understanding of the key concepts and purposes of impact measurement empowers the board to request evidence-based information, ask the right questions and make informed decisions focused on impact. In the same way that boards should receive, understand and respond to financial information about the organisation, the board should have a similar governance role regarding impact. The AICD’s Impact measurement and governance guide outlines five principles of effective impact measurement.

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The Power of Deep Public Wisdom. Between skyscrapers and sprawl lies a healing middle way - the best way fight the climate crisis, the housing crisis, the biodiversity crisis and the ugliness crisis at once - that is, thoughtful community consensus. In commencing litigation Ku-ring-gai has made itself a test-case of the TOD rezonings. Is court action the best way? Or might another approach find a design solution to the problem? #urbanism #deliberativedemocracy Register here: https://lnkd.in/gE_52xAU

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More than just RCTs, experimental evaluation can be an effective and useful method of social impact measurement. If you're about to run an eval and looking to include an experimental component, we may be able to help fund it. Read on.

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I have not read the article yet - just reacting to the post text. These paragraphs caught my attention, as I found myself nodding in agreement. Impact sounds great - who can deny that intention. Metrics are necessary too. In the real complex world though, realizing impact is non-trivial. One aspect of making impact happen is to accept and recognize that it not only takes time, but often an enormous amount of it - during which nothing would have remained the same, in fact to such an extent that, theories, methods, tools, techniques might all need to be reconsidered. What remains steadfast is the intention to impact. I emphasize practice and a concomitant commitment to learning. Here goes: "This article underscores the need for methods that navigate complexity without fixating on certainty or targets. In an era of heightened uncertainty, impact measurement should facilitate learning and experimentation rather than merely ticking boxes. I really like the term "navigational learning" where "in complex contexts we are increasingly moving towards a focus on learning and experimentation (trying, testing, learning) as a way to figure out next steps in the direction of travel"."

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Tony Hughes, Ph.D.'s an Aussie; I'm a Brit. Small wonder that cricket metaphors abound in our content! We're approaching a century of articles for Unpacking Climate Risk, the climate-related financial risk publication he and I set up earlier this year. To celebrate, like all good batsmen, we're saluting the crowd, not with our bats but with five of our personal favorite articles from the past eight months -- all of which have been made free-to-view. Here's my list, which includes ramblings on transition finance, emissions as a proxy for risk, Bank of England collateral nonsense, and more. Like what you read? Then consider tipping us by clicking 'Buy us a coffee' at the top of the website. Thanks to all Unpacking Climate Risk subscribers for your support this year so far. Here's to the next century! https://lnkd.in/eh5m4cze #climaterisk #climatechange #finance #riskmanagement

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Yesterday the Ministry for the Environment | Manatū mō te Taiao released the latest climate projections for Aotearoa New Zealand. 📉 Particularly useful is the ability to select your region, this is not solely a nationwide tool.   These updated projections are freely available to everyone and can be explored through an interactive map and dashboard showing future changes to variables such as temperature, rainfall and wind (plus many more): Map 🗺️: https://lnkd.in/ev__zQjZ Dashboard: 🖥️  https://lnkd.in/eZWK6bap

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I doubt anyone will be surprised Stats NZ has found public trust in institutions continues to decline. Many countries are seeing this trend, as the Edelman Trust Barometer and other surveys show. No doubt there are many complex factors behind this and no easy answers. But public agencies can help by making sure they consult widely when making policies and implementing changes. However, the desire to consult primarily with supporters of a proposal seems to be increasing. Minimising contact with 'difficult' stakeholders may be more comfortable but brings its own set of communication risks. The first is ending up in the media justifying why you’re only talking to certain groups - when you’d rather be promoting your proposal or initiative. The second is the issue declining public trust. Of course, there will be boundaries about how widely you engage, based on resource if nothing else. But not engaging with critics will backfire if they have widespread support and public sympathy. If you’re trying to change the public mood, excluding these groups is more likely to backfire than anything else. A key job for communications practitioners is to show, with evidence, how to balance these risks. Having a clear understanding of your stakeholders and their ability to influence outcomes will assist. The Edelman Trust Barometer is a data point in the private sector to argue for public engagement programmes. Hopefully this Stats Survey can be used by public sector communicators to do the same. https://lnkd.in/gsUjYTu5.

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Today's report into sustainability professionals is a must-read for anyone who works (or would like to work) in sustainability in NZ. The finding that jumps out for me is that communication is the no.1 skill needed for a career in sustainability. Effective communication means you can motivate and inspire. It helps people understand why it's important. It means you can avoid getting into hot water through greenwashing. It's how you can make change happen. It's why I do what I do! This has been a great initiative to work on, led by Sarah Holden at Oxygen Consulting. It's a collaboration together with the Sustainable Business Network, Sustainable Business Council NZ & Auckland University of Technology. Great to work with Sarah Holden, Kelly Flatz, Jack Kendall, Rachel Brown ONZM (She/Her), Tori Calver, Mike Burrell, Peter Skilling, Nicole Schlichting, Kate Barlow, Gerri Ward, Beck Lay, Marjolein Lips-Wiersma Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/dw69P3T #sustainability #communication

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The #RIAAConference2024 is coming up in May, helping investors navigate the mainstreaming of sustainability, and unveiling pivotal initiatives like the Sustainability Classifications and the #AI and #HumanRights Investor Toolkit. Estelle Parker co-CEO Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) says sustainability is no longer in the side-lines, it's now mainstream, and companies are racing to net zero. Click the link below to read more: 👇 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gAr8aWBg 💡🌱 Follow me and FS Sustainability for essential sustainability/ESG-related news, and keep on top of the trends and requirements in a fast-paced business landscape. #esg #sustainability #sustainableinvesting #investment #sustainable #socialimpact #business #responsibleinvesting #responsibleinvestment #investing #financialservices #climatecrisis #LinkedInTopVoices #climatechange #climate #netzero #news #breakingnews #climatenews #newsupdate

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#ICYMI over the weekend, Floodlight dropped a massive investigation into utilities and fossil fuel interests that are spending big to influence the regulators meant to keep them in check. What did we find? In the past decade, fossil fuel and utility interests have spent over $13.5M to back commissioner candidates in the 10 states where utility commissioners are elected - twice as much as renewable energy interests. The result? ⚡ In states like Alabama and Louisiana, where fossil fuel money accounts for 55% and 43% respectively of commissioner campaign funding, little renewable energy is used. 🌞 There, solar is vastly underutilized, despite ideal conditions to generate energy from the sun. Why? Elected officials, often backed by fossil fuel interests, appear reluctant to embrace the change needed to lower emissions and consumer costs. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ePFeTyw3

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We face many challenges as a national and global community to ensure that future generations are able to enjoy at least some of the opportunities, natural wonders and environmental health that we have enjoyed. This is why I work in climate action advocacy - to ensure that the necessary protections and policies are in place for our future generations. Media in the technological age controls our culture and how we respond to challenges as humans. The adage "the pen is mightier than the sword" has never been truer. Each journalist has the choice to report in the interests of people or in the interest of multinational corporations (and yes, I know they speak in the voice that pays their salaries); so the onus falls on each of us can choose which media we listen to and understand whose voice that media is representing - is it independent, or is it a mouthpiece of a vested interest?

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