Diverse representation in Communication
– COFACE EXPERT SEMINAR – co-hosted by COFACE and UNAF Spain
Background
The images and photos of people in any communication campaign or media affects how people think about the world, however photos barely represent the whole range of diversity in society. We don’t want this limit us and continue to ensure an adequate representation of society in our in our member’s outputs. In order to support the campaigns of COFACE and its national members, we would like to collect photos representing families in all their diversity with different colours, abilities and family types.
Societal diversity should not only be transmitted through visual materials but also through language as language similarly forms our image of society. With our members we would like to reflect on the barriers of languages as well as discuss existing and new strategies. Together with an external trainer, we will look at how to best craft message and create storytelling keeping the focus of diverse representation in mind.
Objectives of the webinar
- Exchanges on different national campaigns, with a focus on Spain, to encourage learning between COFACE members on national campaigning
- Discussion on coordinated European campaigns and projects, taking diversity (family, ethnic, disability) as a starting point, bringing members together around common projects.
- Train experts in crafting messages and storytelling
Language of the meeting
English
Status
For COFACE and UNAF members only.
Programme
Morning: Virtual study visit of UNAF Spain
1.Introduction to UNAF: vision, goals, actions
UNAF is a pioneering NGO in Spain working to improve the rights and wellbeing of diverse families. During our more than 30 years of experience, we have promoted the visibility and rights of all types of families in Spain.
Click here for the Presentation.
2.UNAF Media education on female genital mutilation
Communication is key to achieve our goals, but it is also a very important tool that NGOs have to change people’s perceptions and attitudes. UNAF runs a campaign aimed at media professionals, with the objective to show them how to use language and images when they refer to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), in order to empower women survivors, and not stigmatize them or other migrants. Click here for the Presentation.
3.Diverse forms of communication: spotlight on sign language
Deaf people are a diverse collective, and CNSE took us through how they address this in all their communications, with practical examples of campaigns and activities, including some they carried out during the pandemic. Click here for Presentation 1 and Click here for Presentation 2.
Afternoon: Focus on Europe
Working together for more diverse representation in communications
Introduction to the idea of building an online bank of stock images to be used in communication tools (newsletter, webpages, social media, videos, etc) which represent the full diversity of society, as well as discussing diverse language is messaging and storytelling. Click here for the Presentation.