Brain Pickings

December 24, 2012

Earlier today, reading the Wikipedia article about Barton Fink, one of the Coen brothers opined that putting in a rich mix of allusions into their films which film critics will explore at great length is akin to teasing animals at the zoo.

In a like manner, after spending  only a few minutes on the Brain Pickings blog, I sense both great excitement and anticipation, with a dollop of dread. It  is so vast, I will barely hold on after even a quick surface view. However it works out for me, I commend the site to you, if you are interested in practically anything and everything.

Filed under Interesting Stuff

SocialWorks released by CDC

December 24, 2012

I wrote earlier about MessageWorks, the first of three new products developed by Atlanta CDC.

They have now released the second tool,  called SocialWorks, accessed directly or through the HealthCommWorks portal page.

At the heart of this tool is an intelligent algorithm, carefully developed by an expert panel. Taking the information you provide about your situation, resources, objectives and the like, the SocialWorks tool recommends which of 20+ plus social media might work best, and why.

There is also a supplement about evaluation metrics and analytics, with some sources, examples, and sample tracking spreadsheets.

I am keen to talk to colleagues to see how SocialWorks “thinking” aligned with, complemented, or challenged their own !

Filed under News

MINDSPACE

December 24, 2012

Norms, incentives, ego, …..

Take some traditional behavior changes theories, add emerging behavioural economics, shake into 9 ingredients, arrange them in a row with a catchy acronym, and what do you get? MINDSPACE  !!!

MINDSPACE: Influencing behaviour through public policy was published by the United Kingdom’s Institute for Government and the Cabinet Office on 2 March 2010.

Filed under Interesting Stuff

The Ins and Outs of “Protective Cognition”

December 24, 2012

Over the years, I have enjoyed various products and services from Spitfire Strategies, including a series of webinars they are now co-sponsoring with The Communication Network.

The first in the series featured Dan Kahan, who explored theories about why this is a gap between known science and community beliefs. This includes a phenomenon known as “protective cognition”. This presentation is available on the web in whole and in parts. Check it out !

Filed under News

International Social Marketing Conference

December 24, 2012

The International Social Marketing Association is holding their annual conference in Toronto, April 21-3, 2012.

About iSMA:   The International Social Marketing Association (iSMA) is the pioneer federation advancing and expanding the use of the social marketing approach worldwide. It is an entirely volunteer-run, member-driven organization offering online access to information on social marketing conferences and meetings, tools and resources, jobs and listserv/discussion forums. iSMA also provides regular member news updates; discounts on conferences, trainings and subscriptions; and opportunities for volunteering, networking and visibility.  Show you are serious about social marketing by joining and supporting the International Social Marketing Association. http://i-socialmarketing.org

Filed under News

European Centre on Disease Control

December 24, 2012

I am using this post to point to one of a number of resources being developed by a consortium of universities comprised of the Health Promotion Research Centre at the National University of Ireland Galway, as the lead coordinating centre, and the Institute for Social Marketing, University of Stirling, Scotland, and the University of Navarra Clinic, Pamplona, Spain.
The systematic literature review related to Immunization Schedule Promotional Communications  was produced by Georgina Cairns, Laura MacDonald, Kathryn Angus,
Laura Walker, Theodora Cairns-Haylor and Timothy Bowdler, Institute for Social Marketing, University
of Stirling and the Open University.
The project was overseen by Ülla-Karin Nurm, Andrea Würz, Piotr Wysocki, Niklas Danielsson and Irina
Dinca, ECDC Communication Knowledge Group in the Public Health Capacity and Communication Unit.

This is one of a number of toolkits produced by the Knowledge and Resource Centre on Health Communications, of the ECDC located in Stockholm.

It was my pleasure to serve on the Advisory Committee for a project that included creation of this paper.

Filed under Interesting Stuff