adventitious comms, tech, and music
Rob Fenwick
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Posts by Rob Fenwick
What #Trafigura can teach political parties and others
Nov 8th
It comes round so regularly you could set an incredibly slow clock by it – the question “will the next election be the Internet election?”
It’s impossible to answer that question without first defining what an “Internet election” is. Traditionally to my mind there have been two possible definitions:
- An election where a stasticically significant number of seats, ten or more, change hands either as the direct result of online campaigns by political parties candidates, or because positive online campaigning was a critical factor.
- An election where any number of MPs, as low as a single MP, is undeniably ousted from their seat by a negative campaign either by political opponents or independent critics, mustered online.
But a third possibility is emerging.
My belief is that when we look back on the General Election of 2010, for all the effort poured in to them the defining story will not come from My Conservatives, or the Liberal Democrats’ soon to be launched competitor, Act.
It could come from a signature pre-planned campaign. If, for example, the TaxPayer’s Alliance aren’t working right now on a postcode searchable system in which voters can see what their sitting MP has claimed on expenses, and what their opponents have said their approach to expenses will be, then they need to sack the person responsible for their digital effort and re-hire quickly.
More likely, the defining online moment of GE2010 will come from Twitter. Watch this short video before you go any further:
Music for Remembrance Sunday
Nov 8th
For as long as I can remember – probably about the age of six or seven – I’ve attended Remembrance Sunday, either as a young chorister or later as a face in the crowd. Each year I also privately mark the two minute silence for Armistice Day, and I have to admit to some sadness that it’s seven years since I worked for a company which stopped the whole place at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
As Armistice Day continues to somewhat inevitably fade from the public consciousness, the two conflicts in Iraq and the conflict in Afghanistan have made Remembrance Sunday ever more relevant and prominent. Today we have no choice but to look the human cost of political decisions directly in the eyes – it must be deeply sobering for those entrusted with national leadership.
Anyway, without wishing to be maudlin, whatever your reason for remembrance and reflection today I hope Perotin’s Beata Viscera helps you along your way.
(Starts after 8 seconds of silence. Translation.)
Vlog: Church and state – something public buildings can learn from churches
Nov 7th
To the Church of St Peter, Chillesford today. There’s always a slight moment of apprehension when you try the door of a rural church – you never know whether or not it’s open to the public. This church had an approach which was simple, but put the visitor at ease straight away.
I’ve been looking for an opportunity to try out the video camera on my new phone (HTC Hero), and though I’m a bit disappointed with the recording quality, here’s the resulting vlog on that church, and some thoughts on opening up public buildings.
I’m off
Oct 27th
“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
So said André Gide. Wise man. It’s in that spirit that I’ve taken a gamble, and handed in my notice at work – I’ll be leaving in the new year.
We’ve completed a couple of major projects recently – a new website for the University of Westminster, and a major HR campaign (both profiled here.) Those two projects close an intensive 32 months which have been packed full of comms, PR, media, and public affairs work. It’s been a fantastically broad and challenging role during a period of intensive change for the University.
The Vice-Chancellor recently announced a new three-year plan, within our vision for 2015. It’s a big plan, and I fully support it. However, I realised quickly that it was going to need constant communication, and it would be best served if the Comms Director could see it through to 2013 at least, and better still to 2015. I’m convinced that it’s best for the University if a new figure takes over in the new year to progress my work, avoiding the disruption of a handover mid-project – and this is the only window to ensure a smooth handover. I’ll miss the great team we’ve built here.
Having declined my manager’s kind offer to try and talk me out of it, I’ve taken a leap in to the unknown. I’m putting together a showcase of my work, and I’m happy to send my CV to anyone who’s interested. Both my current employers and Lord Rennard have offered to act as referees. If you would like to see my CV, or discuss any opportunities, do email me (rob@northumbrian.org.uk) or call me on 07961 814 527.
Lets hope that neither destitution nor consultancy await.
Out of context
Oct 23rd
One of life’s simple pleasures is the unexpected sentence, or the overheard snippet of conversation which, when taken out of context, is inspiring or baffling. It’s partly what makes Someone Once Told Me one of the most consistently entertaining sites on the ‘net.
I’ve always said that some day I would compile a book of unexpected sentences, the sort of things that make you say “well, I never thought that would come out of my mouth”, but I like to start small and pilot first – so before the book comes www.twitter.com/adventitiously
Adventitiously will be a 24 hour stream of consciousness, taken completely out of context. It will launch without warning (even I don’t know when I’ll do it), it will consist completely of passing thoughts of mine, things I overhear, or things I say. Nothing will be explained, it’s for you to imply your own meaning to the moments. An example from today might’ve been:
“If it had to be that big, did it have to be that colour?”
It might be hilarious, it may be profound, most likely it will be a complete waste of time. We’ll never know unless we try. Whatever happens, I’d like to gather your reactions around the hashtag #adventitiously. So, if you fancy a day out of context some time soon, please follow @adventitiously now.