This workshop also can be joined online:
This is the second
SPA-funded workshop
The media plays a crucial role in shaping dominant public discourses on the causes, ‘realities’ of, and solutions to crises. These messages often echo political-economic agendas, reinforcing individualising rhetoric that judges and blames individuals and certain groups and communities, rather than exposing the structural problems that are the real cause of inequality.
Myth-busting and telling alternative stories that counter the toxic effects of dominant poverty narratives and ‘poverty propaganda’ is therefore imperative.
Through expert-led discussions, featuring Save the Children UK, Heard and Living Rent, our media engagement workshop will think about the use of media in our work and the role it can play in effectively conveying key messages and findings.
We will also learn how to craft compelling counter-narratives, engage with journalists, and utilise both traditional and digital media platforms.
This will aid workshop members in communicating these social issues in ways that will shift perceptions of poverty and inequality and create meaningful change.
Programme
12.00 – 12.15: Registration and refreshments
12.15: Welcome from the organiser
12.30 – 13.00: Gemma Munday, Senior Stories Producer, Save the Children UK
13.00 – 13.30: Aditi Jehangir, Campaigner & Rufus Bouverie, Communications Officer, Living Rent
13.30– 14.00: Q & A session
14.00 – 14.45: Lunch and Networking
14.45 – 15.15: Zino Onokaye-Akaka, Programme Manager, Heard
15.15 – 15.45: Media Engagement Group Activity
15.45: Refreshments
16.00 - 16.30: Q & A session
16.30- 17.00: Mary O’Hara, an award-winning journalist, author and producer
17.00-17.05: Closing remarks and next steps
Gemma Munday, Senior Stories Producer, Save the Children UK
Gemma works globally with children to share their stories through various mediums. She is also a local councillor in London, focusing on children's services, and a trustee for InHive, a charity supporting young people in leveraging their networks.
In her talk, Gemma will discuss her involvement in the 'Potential not Poverty' campaign, a collaboration between Save the Children UK and the creative agency Effervescent.
The campaign, co-created with young people, aims to challenge perceptions of poverty in the UK and urge government action to end child poverty. It includes a powerful short film shaped by children's experiences. Gemma will share insights into the co-creation process and behind-the-scenes footage, emphasizing the campaign's goal to foster understanding and connection between different groups.
“For children experiencing poverty, it can feel incredibly lonely. The film isn’t meant to make people feel bad, it’s meant to make a bridge between different groups and help people understand each other better.” - Aisha, 17, Manchester.
Aditi Jehangir, Campaigner, Living Rent
Aditi has been involved in Scotland's tenant and community union, Living Rent, for five years, with roles in social media and communications, as chair of a local branch, and she is currently a National Chair on the National Committee of the union. Having lived in Edinburgh for a decade, she got involved in tenant organising after hearing about others' stories of disrepair, as well as her own experiences as a tenant dealing with poor quality housing and unfair rent rises. In her talk, she will argue that communication plays a huge role in how we discuss the work of the union. She will also cover some core challenges and offer recommendations.
Rufus Bouverie, Communications Officer, Living Rent Scotland’s tenant and community union
Rufus has held this role for two years. Previously, he was an active member of the union, becoming involved as a student in Edinburgh, where he fought against disrepair and rent increases. Over time, he focused on highlighting the stories of the cases he worked on. Effective communication is crucial to his work and the broader housing narrative in Scotland. He looks forward to sharing his experiences at an upcoming workshop.
Zino Onokaye-Akaka, Programme Manager, Heard
Heard is a charity that collaborates with people and the media to create content and communication that influence public opinion. Zino joined Heard in 2020 and now manages the Talking about Poverty and Angles programmes. She represented Heard at the UN in 2022. Additionally, she co-hosts the podcast Tea with Coconut and Plantain and is a trustee for IMIX. In her talk, Zino will emphasize the importance of effective communication, which involves being heard and feeling heard. She will discuss how good communication can transform perspectives and advance societal conversations. Her workshop will cover the impact of effective communication, practical tips for achieving it, and strategies for doing so safely.
Mary O’Hara is an award-winning journalist, author and producer with a focus on social justice and poverty.
Mary O’Hara’s journalism has appeared in publications including The Guardian, Byline Times, Community Living Magazine, the New Statesman and many more. She is the author of two books: The Shame Game: Overturning the toxic poverty narrative (2020) & Austerity Bites: A journey to the sharp end of cuts in the UK (2014). The 10th anniversary edition of Austerity Bites will be published in September 2024 by The University of Bristol Press.
Mary is the founder of the multi-platform anti-poverty initiative, Project Twist-It and a contributor to numerous books including The Violence of Austerity (Pluto Press 2017), Council Skies by the artist, Pete McKee and Vulnerable Consumers and the Law, Routledge (2021).
Mary has directed/produced short films, run a comedy club, been an Alistair Cooke Fulbright Scholar at UC Berkeley and a producer, booker and consultant on the podcast, Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness. She also produced the audiobook, Imperial San Francisco. She is a former Mind Journalist of the Year and a three-time winner of Best Foreign Columnist at the Southern California Journalism Awards for her Guardian column, Lesson From America. She is the founder and chair of the David Nobbs Memorial Trust, and is a fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts.
In her talk, Mary will speak about Project Twist-It, the anti-poverty storytelling initiative that aims to transform the way we talk about poverty and challenge stigma. This will provide a good example of where the types of stories we tell matter. It will also show that building alliance and surfacing diverse voices is of upmost importance.