Integrate Network Communications Workshops – Workshop 1: Building a Narrative

How should we best manage our forests? This is the guiding question behind the virtual communication workshop series the secretariat of the European Integrate Network is initiating. Being aware that there is no single answer to this question, in our first training on “Building a Narrative”, we would like to engage with you to develop narratives for your proposed solutions and effectively communicate with those who might have different perspectives. The workshop will provide the opportunities for exchanging perspectives and listen to the stories others tell to define the best communications approaches to respond to the guiding question.

As a result of the training, you will gain fundamental knowledge about effective communication and narrative development and learn to communicate more convincingly to different audiences. You will also receive a certificate for your active participation.

The training series aims at bringing together a diverse group from forest policy, forest practice, nature conservation stakeholders, researchers and journalists to jointly improve their communication skills, exchange perspectives and learn from each other.

All the workshops will be closed-shop to enable a safe space for interpersonal interaction. Therefore, we will only allow 21 participants to register. To make sure we can rely on your participation please send an email with a short “application” (explanation of why you would like to join the workshop and what you are aiming at learning, ca. 1/2 page) to gesche.schifferdecker (at) efi.int. Before applying, please consider that this workshop will focus on the European context.

10:30-11:00 Understanding the problem with narrative development

What is a ‘narrative’ and why is it important to respond to the question “How should we best manage our forests?”.  This session will provide a big picture perspective on the power of narrative and storytelling and discuss the challenges with developing a narrative that “works”.

11:00-12:00 Understanding the differences in perspectives and consider the opposite

To go deeper into understanding the challenge we face as a practioner, researcher and policy-maker in communicating our positions, we will take a step back to discover what type of different interests and priorities exist and how they influence the way people interpret your narrative.

12:00-12:30: Break

12:30-13:30: Building a Narrative from human-centered design approach

After exploring the complexity and challenges with narrative development, we will explore some of the approaches and tools that can help you formulate a narrative that reaches a wide range of people beyond your ‘usual’ target group.

13:30-14:00: Reflecting and exchanging experiences

The day will end with group reflections and sharing new ideas that emerged from the session to take the next steps beyond the workshop.