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To campaign effectively, your group needs to decide how and where it can make the most difference. Use the steps below to identify the exact nature of the problem you want to solve and the elements that impact on solving it.
Your campaign will be stronger if you take a step back and look at the problem in its context.
Some of the most powerful campaigns happen when communities facing the same kinds of problems work together to solve them.
In a complex world, no problem or the campaign to address it stands alone. You will need to consider the environment you're operating in. This research may appear to be time consuming and potentially costly. You can avoid "analysis paralysis" by putting limits on the research.
Things to find out:
Likely sources of information include:
Try to keep good records of what information you obtained from where and whom. This is both for copyright issues and for issues of liability and authenticity. Everyone will see an issue differently. You need to make sure your research includes the biases of arguments and their sources.
NEXT STEP: Solutions and objectives
Identifying the problem
Your campaign will be stronger if you take a step back and look at the problem in its context.
- What is actually happening?
- What is problematic about it?
- Who is it a problem for and why?
- What are your personal reasons for seeing the situation as a problem?
- What are your professional reasons for seeing the situation as a problem?
- What prejudices or assumptions do you bring to the issue that need airing?
Mapping the context
Some of the most powerful campaigns happen when communities facing the same kinds of problems work together to solve them.
In a complex world, no problem or the campaign to address it stands alone. You will need to consider the environment you're operating in. This research may appear to be time consuming and potentially costly. You can avoid "analysis paralysis" by putting limits on the research.
Things to find out:
- What is the public's perceptions of this issue: why would they care anyway?
- What are the views of local and state politicians? Are there party positions on the issue?
- What other organisations have a stake in this issue? Are they potential allies or potential opponents?
- Does this campaign fit in with your group's values? Do you have the skills and resources? If not can you get them?
Likely sources of information include:
- Speaking to people involved - interviews
- Your local library for maps, acts of parliament, magazines
- Parliament House for copies of recent legislation and other reports/submissions on the topic
- Government departments
- Your local council
- Public companies - annual reports
- Australian Bureau Of Statistics - for a wealth of facts and figures
- The Land Titles Office
- Universities
- Media resources - newspapers, radio, TV, the internet
- Most companies and government departments have the above information on their websites. So save money and footpower by searching online!
Accurate information
Try to keep good records of what information you obtained from where and whom. This is both for copyright issues and for issues of liability and authenticity. Everyone will see an issue differently. You need to make sure your research includes the biases of arguments and their sources.
NEXT STEP: Solutions and objectives
