Early in EA, some events created lasting adverse narratives, such as those around earning to give. It seems like these narratives started by small, initial, events and could have been avoided.
More recently, there have been several articles and minor media events that have presented narratives against EA or certain values in EA. Some people have expressed that their work has been made more difficult by them.
If you believe these narratives represent real issues, they should be investigated and acted on. If you don’t, a high quality communication strategy should be implemented (including inaction). Insufficient competence in communications harms projects and people.
Media events tend to be lumpy and unpredictable. It’s unclear what will happen as many more projects and efforts are made by EAs.
It seems like several senior EAs serve as ad-hoc comms or PR leaders. In some sense, this is great and the ideal. But reliance on a few people is bad. These leaders have other skills and it’s unlikely outside communications is their comparative advantage. Future events could create much more pressure and complexity and burnout seems possible. Expert services, subordinate to these efforts, would be good (the same EA you like now would “front-woman”, but be supported by a team).
Background/context:
Early in EA, some events created lasting adverse narratives, such as those around earning to give. It seems like these narratives started by small, initial, events and could have been avoided.
More recently, there have been several articles and minor media events that have presented narratives against EA or certain values in EA. Some people have expressed that their work has been made more difficult by them.
If you believe these narratives represent real issues, they should be investigated and acted on. If you don’t, a high quality communication strategy should be implemented (including inaction). Insufficient competence in communications harms projects and people.
Media events tend to be lumpy and unpredictable. It’s unclear what will happen as many more projects and efforts are made by EAs.
It seems like several senior EAs serve as ad-hoc comms or PR leaders. In some sense, this is great and the ideal. But reliance on a few people is bad. These leaders have other skills and it’s unlikely outside communications is their comparative advantage. Future events could create much more pressure and complexity and burnout seems possible. Expert services, subordinate to these efforts, would be good (the same EA you like now would “front-woman”, but be supported by a team).