Teach Public Interest Communication
Readings
Feel free to add to or borrow from this list of readings relating to the field of PIC. When suggesting an addition using the form below, please include a category.
Public interest communications frameworks
Christiano, Ann & Neimand, Annie, “Stop Raising Awareness Already.” Complete article: https://ssir.org/articles/entry/stop_raising_awareness_already#
Abridged Version: https://www.jou.ufl.edu/insights/stop-raising-awareness/
Christiano, Ann. (2017). “Foreword: Building the Field of Public Interest Communications.” Journal of Public Interest Communications, Vol. 1 No. 1, 4-16 https://doi.org/10.32473/jpic.v1.i1
Christiano, A. & Neimand, A. (2018). “The Science of What Makes People Care.” Stanford Social Innovation Review. https://ssir.org/articles/entry/the_science_of_what_makes_people_care#
Christiano, A. & Neimand, A. (2017). “The Back-of-the-Envelope Guide to Communications Strategy.” Stanford Social Innovation Review. https://ssir.org/articles/entry/the_back_of_the_envelope_guide_to_communications_strategy
Johnston, J., & Pieczka, M. (2019). Public interest communication: Critical debates and global contexts. New York: Routledge.
Neimand, A. (2018) “How to Tell Stories About Complex Issues.” Stanford Social Innovation Review. https://ssir.org/articles/entry/how_to_tell_stories_about_complex_issues
Emotions in communications
The Goodman Center. (2020). Fear or hope: which motivates more? (This group tried both.). Freerange Thinking. https://www.thegoodmancenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/freerange_2020_01.pdf
Journalism skills
Baleria, G. (2021). The Journalism Behind Journalism: Going Beyond the Basics to Train Effective Journalists in a Shifting Landscape. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/The-Journalism-Behind-Journalism-Going-Beyond-the-Basics-to-Train-Effective/Baleria/p/book/9780367558222
Social change theory
Centola, D. (2021). Change: How to Make Big Things Happen. Little, Brown Spark.
Heimans, J, & Timms, H. New power: How power works in our hyperconnected world—and how to make it work for you. New York, NY: Penguin Random House, 2017.
Kristof, N. (2009, Nov. 30). Nicholas Kristof’s Advice for Saving the World. Outside. https://www.outsideonline.com/1909636/nicholas-kristofs-advice-saving-world
Stroh, David P. Systems Thinking for Social Change. White River Junction, Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing, 2015.
Tufekci, Z. (2017). Twitter and Tear Gas; The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest. Yale University Press.
How to make people care about big issues
Kristof, N. (2009, Nov. 30). Nicholas Kristof’s Advice for Saving the World. Outside. https://www.outsideonline.com/1909636/nicholas-kristofs-advice-saving-world
Wen, W. And Shammas, B. (2020, Dec. 21). Why Americans are numb to the staggering coronavirus death toll. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/12/21/covid-why-we-ignore-deaths/
Message framing
Frameworks Institute: https://www.frameworksinstitute.org
Lakoff, G. (2014). The all new don’t think of an elephant; know your values and frame the debate. Chelsea Green Publishing.
Narrative power
Matthews, S. (2022). “To Build a Public Safety That Protects Black Women and Girls, Money Isn’t the Only Resource We Need.” Nonprofit Quarterly. https://nonprofitquarterly.org/to-build-a-public-safety-that-protects-black-women-and-girls-money-isnt-the-only-resource-we-need/?utm_content=213373765&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-542508
Narrative Initiative: https://narrativeinitiative.org
Robinson, R. Building Narrative Power: Papers and Presentations Focused on Strategy, Infrastructure & Content for Culture Change and Narrative Change Strategies. Available at https://narrative.colorofchange.org
Public interest communications in action
Cottle, M. (2018). How Parkland students changed the gun debate.” The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/parkland-students-power/554399/
The March for Our Lives Founders. (2018). Glimmer of hope: How tragedy sparked a movement. Penguin Random House.
Social media and public interest communications
Tufekci, Z. (2017). Twitter and Tear Gas; The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest. Yale University Press.
Inclusivity of voices
Barrows, A. (2022, Aug. 22). Behavioral Scientist. Lived Experience Makes the Work Better. https://behavioralscientist.org/lived-experience-makes-the-work-better/?mc_cid=7abb414c52&mc_eid=a363e7e5ea