Coalition eCampaigning

The last 12+ months has been a big year for campaigning coalitions with GCAP /Make Poverty History and the Stop Climate Chaos coalition launched. For new media, they raise challenges which must be handled intelligently (and often are not!).

Event Notes

Impacts/Coalitions - what next?

With the growing recognition that impacts can only be achieved on the big issues by working in alliance/coalitions to achieve scale, what does this mean for the future of e campaigning? How can e campaigning increase impact in this area?

• Awareness of issue/influencing future debate/frame
• Political/policy/legislature change.
• Build campaign strength/future base.
• Education, learning and understanding of individuals and/or behaviour change.
• "Unexpected" impacts that are positive.
• Plus other impacts.

Definitions:

• Does there have to be a formal coalition? Informal "coalitions" happen all the time - what is the right balance?
• "Digital" coalitions or the "digital" part of a coalition is a fairly new area.

E campaigning issues:

• The role of new media in having a discussion about whether or not to go forward with an alliance/mass campaign.
• Our sector is making campaigning organisations "one". It just needs to be realised.
• What is the most effective way to decide the public expression of a mass campaign/mobilisation?
• Resolving data protection issues.
• Ensuring interoperability.
• Sharing recourses.
• Prioritising development.
• Collaboration tools.
• Promote other organisations actions in addition to own.

When are the next political opportunities for an e campaigning supported mass mobilisation internationally - lets start planning for them?

Sharing learning and expertise on producing good products in complex sign off processes.

Collaboration is the future BUT some NGO's are not culturally ready for the next leap. This is a block on other causes and a barrier to increasing true potential of e campaigning. This situation must be changed and those responsible challenged to adopt new ways of working together.

Learning national/international and other differences in how shared working online can be best managed across large campaigns.

Guiding principles (That avoid common problems):

• Avoid repeat processes/mistakes and reinforce good practice.
• Evaluation of existing or former coalitions - lets find out what we can learn or what evaluations have been done before.

Means to an end: A project

• Networks alliances - their role in building APC/Greennet (less public)
• Some networks are working together to create toolkits, resources etc for campaigning and capacity building.
• Campaigning in our area (e.g. Digital ICT issues)

Lets learn more about BIG lists: Commercial models a basis e.g. partnerships. Lets look at some examples - virgin mobiles collaborating with airlines.

Opposition alliances e.g. industry bodies.

Do they have anything we can learn more from or not?

What happens next? Simple ways in - if you care about X, here is an online way in (avoid meaningless coalition names like "GCAP".)

• How best to deal with "loyalty" questions?
• How best to accrue benefits to "member" organisations part of a wider "project".
• Flexible.
• "Common" actions are the way forward.
• It is in your self-interest and the campaign/cause to "link out"?
• Blogs are more "leaky" than the corporate sites that are too brick walled.

What would determine whether or not to have a website for the "project"?

• Senior buy in to new media is key - distribute through coalition members distribution channels - lets get better at this.
• Any delay in these areas will limit new media potential.
• Determine best options/models.
• What would this process look like?
• Explore what kind of identity?
• Any site must be of the highest professional standard.
• Mobilisation/campaign/network/life-time.

Associate "members" with the project unless there is a reason not to - there are many: eg more popular audiences/engaging entertainment and other formats.

The "transaction costs" of coalition working can erode the time to think and develop best products.

The relationship may happen later in their life or the life of the project (or not at all!) Recruitment is not the most important

What is the most important thing that must happen? Public action or understanding of issues?

Lets explore manifestations at key moments not ongoing, public campaign campaigns and new media can be an important part of coming into being quickly (and potentially disappearing for a while or forever or to come back in a different form at the right time.)

Interested Participants