FrameWorks Institute

What role do emotions play in framing effectively during an election season? Questions like these are top-of-mind for communicators trying to break through the election noise. Check out episode 1 of our new video series, “Election Year Framing” to learn more:

Salacious stories don’t spark support for structural change. Instead of telling sensationalized stories about elite child athlete abuse, talking about what sports institutions need to do to prevent abuse before it happens can help people understand that change is possible. For more insights like this one, read the brief to learn more about building a better narrative around elite child athlete abuse prevention: #CultureChange #FramingForGood

Data doesn't talk. Presenting data alone leaves people to make their own assumptions about what's happening and why it happens, which often means confirming existing biases or stereotypes about the world. Instead, we can support understanding by contextualizing our data and interpreting relevant facts. #OnFrameFridays

You asked… We’re answering! We know how important it is to make sure that our messages don’t get lost amidst all the noise of an election season. Whether it’s figuring out how to effectively engage emotions in ways that build understanding or it’s counteracting disrespect, the framing choices we make are still important—even when they aren’t on the ballot. WATCH THE VIDEOS: https://bit.ly/4brfqoC

This new, user-centric tool from the Urban Institute is designed to help those committed to advancing equity through local government find resources to help drive their work. It includes resources on topics ranging from communications to community engagement. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/e_Je4dB4

NEW TOOLKIT FOR BETTER REPORTING ON GUN VIOLENCE News coverage of gun violence can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and make it seem inevitable, but, as communicators, we have an opportunity to tell better stories to help minimize harm and make it clear that change is possible. This new toolkit, developed in partnership with our friends from the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting (PCGVR) and the Stoneleigh Foundation, includes guidance to help communicators tell more complete, humanizing stories to build support for a public health approach to gun violence prevention. Take a look at the toolkit:

Our friends at The Wellbeing Project recently launched a new video series on supporting the health and wellbeing of social changemakers! Take a look at the first video for insights on how to amplify our potential for enacting transformative change and of the importance of supporting access to wellbeing resources: https://lnkd.in/ezny43Ew

As communicators, sharing numbers helps to describe a problem and its scale, but we often forget that numbers can also help us tell more contextual stories. By incorporating numbers into a chain of events that explains the problem, we can highlight the surrounding context, how human decisions are contributing, and the policy opportunities available to solve it. Here’s an example of what effectively using numbers might look like: “Salaries for CEOs at major companies rise 430%, profits decline 10% worldwide, and thousands of people are let go from their jobs in Minnesota to hold the bottom line on profitability for a small number of shareholders around the world. With better planning and better policies, we don't have to choose between shared prosperity and a strong economy.” #OnFrameFridays

This thought-provoking new piece addresses how abortion bans are shaping an entire generation of young people. In her recent article, Dr. Julie Maslowsky discusses the impact of a post-Dobbs world on adolescents and young adults. Check it out: