How to Use New Age Communications Tools to Educate the Public
Download as PPTX, PDF3 likes955 views
Connected vehicles are set to enhance travel safety, efficiency, and reduce pollution, with ongoing research supported by USDOT and the auto industry. Key communication challenges include public awareness and privacy concerns, while various tools like videos, infographics, and workshops are employed to inform stakeholders effectively. Effective messaging should be tailored to audiences, using relatable concepts and engaging visuals to highlight connected vehicle benefits.
How to Use New Age Communications Tools to Educate the Public
- 2. CONNECTED VEHICLES ARE COMING SOON
- 3. CONNECTED VEHICLES Key Messages • Connected vehicles can significantly reduce traffic accidents • Connected vehicles can make travel easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable • Connected vehicles can help curb pollution • Connected vehicles include all modes of transportation as well as pedestrians • Connected vehicle research is a partnership between the USDOT, the auto industry, and other public and private researchers • Connected vehicles are not a threat to your privacy • NHTSA is moving forward with deployment of vehicle –to- vehicle technology; the next step will be connected vehicle pilots
- 4. OUR KEY COMMUNICATIONS CHALLENGES Some of our main challenges include: • Connected vehicle technology is still in development • The government is limited in what it can say about the technology • Key stakeholders need to be informed • The public needs to be educated • Inaccurate perceptions need to be addressed • Public is concerned about privacy of connected vehicle data • Public not aware of ALL the benefits associated with connected vehicles
- 5. We use a variety of communications tools and formats to tell our story: TELLING OUR STORY • Online video • Infographics • Animation • Trade show displays • Modified stock photos • Downloadable images • Posters • Newsletters • Story boards • Simulators • Webinars • ePrimers • Internal Tool Kits
- 6. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: ONLINE VIDEO • Short videos of just a few seconds can help to tell your story • Media outlets are also more likely to use them
- 7. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: INFOGRAPHICS • Infographics help to map out complex ideas so they can be better understood • The USDOT uses infographics to explain how connected vehicle applications would work in a real- world situation Ensure subject matter experts review your infographics. Small changes can impact the accuracy of your message.
- 8. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: ANIMATION • Animation is a powerful tool to help tell a story • Animated videos can be silent or include narration • Narration is important in communicating key messages that cannot be conveyed solely through visuals Get scripts approved before starting the animation work. Make sure the animation has closed captioning when required.
- 9. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: TRADE SHOW DISPLAYS • Signage at trade shows can help explain the importance of your display Keep signage simple and use promotional flyers to provide more detailed information.
- 10. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: MODIFIED STOCK PHOTOS • Photos can be modified to tell your story Original Photo Modified Photo Make sure you are familiar with the copyright license for your stock photo company. Talk to your attorney before uploading modified images on your website for download.
- 11. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: DOWNLOADABLE IMAGES • A creative image that tells a story will be popular with media outlets Ensure high-resolution versions are available for download from your website.
- 12. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: POSTERS • Posters are an inexpensive, non-controversial promotional item that can be distributed at trade shows Ensure posters are high quality and attention grabbing.
- 13. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: NEWSLETTERS • A newsletter is a common and effective communications tool for providing information and creating/increasing awareness Create a newsletter template that is exciting and attracts your audience, while also being consistent to your brand.
- 14. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: STORY BOARDS • Storyboards can help illustrate the real-world applications of your technology Don’t just state the facts in your presentations; show them.
- 15. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: TRAINING • We used in-class, online and webinar training to educate people in the transportation industry about connected vehicles
- 16. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: WEB MICROSITE
- 17. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: INTERNAL STAFF TOOL KIT We share an internal tool kit for the USDOT staff to access which provides them with a variety of resources including: • Talking Points • Factsheets • Leave Behind Materials • FAQ’s • Web Resources • Staff Webinar
- 18. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: SIMULATORS We often use driving simulators to allow our audience to experience what it’s like to drive a connected vehicle first-hand:
- 19. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: ePRIMER The ITS ePrimer provides transportation professionals with fundamental concepts and practices related to ITS technologies. This online resource can help practicing professionals and students better understand how ITS is integrated into the planning, design, deployment, and operations of surface transportation systems.
- 20. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: CONNECTED VEHICLE 101 WORKSHOPS These Classroom-style workshops are taught by USDOT staffers and contractors and are available at selected Industry events around the U.S.
- 21. COMMUNICATIONS TOOL: TAILOR YOUR MESSAGE TO YOUR AUDIENCE StudentsPublic Officials Media Make your message resonate strongly with your target audience
- 22. LESSONS LEARNED • Map out your story in advance • Keep messages simple; use plain English • Use concepts people can relate to—“Wi-Fi for cars” • Keep subject matter experts involved throughout the process • Focus on the “cool factor” of your message • Keep attorneys involved when dealing with copyrighted images • Do a communications gap analysis; determine whether similar work has already been performed
- 23. CONTACT INFO Mike Pina Program Manager, Communications & Outreach Federal Highway Administration Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (202) 366-3700 michael.pina@dot.gov Twitter: @ITSJPODirector Facebook: www.facebook.com/DOTRITA Website: www.its.dot.gov Photos courtesy of: USDOT
Editor's Notes
- #2: Change the title on this one to How to use New Age Communications tools to tell your agency’s story Iinclude my name and title Need images of the info graphs, animation,
- #4: We need an image of different types of Connected Vehicles
- #5: No sure what we can use for an image here. Maybe some of the challenges I mentioned on a word wall
- #6: Images of infographs, animation still EU US display, Poster’s etc
- #7: Tammy we need to pull a picture of one of the videos from one of our sites
- #8: Picture of infographs
- #9: We need to show some stills of the animation Put the word Privacy somewhere on the image so I can talk about the importance of narration.
- #10: Images for the EU-US display; show one of the flyers we gave out
- #11: Tammy let’s show and original thinkstock and one you significantly modified. Maybe the eco-lane one
- #12: Ideally we would want to show an example of one of your images that was used in publication. I would try the news article page on our website. it is in eht press room. You might also want to an image of the image page on our website.
- #14: Newsletter image
- #24: Please include website, my contact info, twitter, Facebook and E-mail logos Include photo credits