Writing for policy change
Rohan Samarajiva
New Delhi, 19-22 September 2016
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Outcome and means
• Outcome = change in policy OR reversal of proposed
change OR modification of proposed change
– Other . . . .
• Means = communication
• What kind of communication?
– Depends on the audience, the problem and the context
– For people like us, formal communication is what is mostly
appropriate
– Two kinds of oral communication and three kinds of
writing
• Other . . .
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Oral communication
1. Informal and interactive
2. Formal
• In order for attention to be gained, generally
necessary to write, e.g.,
1. Write an op-ed in order to get on the radar
2. Write a persuasive note to get an appointment with
a decision maker (I&I)
3. Submit a written brief to get invited to make an oral
presentation (F)
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Understanding attention
• What information consumes is rather obvious:
it consumes the attention of its recipients.
Hence a wealth of information creates a
poverty of attention, and a need to allocate
that attention efficiently among the
overabundance of information sources that
might consume it.
Herbert Simon
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• Is gaining attention easier or harder now,
compared to five years ago?
– If yes, why?
– If no, why?
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• Relation between the power of a decision
maker and the difficulty of gaining her
attention
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If getting undivided attention is hard . .
.
• What alternative do we have other than
persuasive written communication?
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Persuasive written communication
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Language
Brevity
Importance of first para, headers, title . . .
Use of language with potential to become
“memes”
• If a picture is worth a thousand words,
–
–
–
–
What is a table worth?
A figure?
A video?
A sound clip?
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Different forms
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Op-ed
Policy brief
Scholarly article/essay
Tweet
Facebook post
Blog
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Check list
• Is it appropriate for the audience?
• Can it grab attention, in competition with others?
• Does it address
– Ethos
– Pathos
– Logos?
• Does it include potential memes?
• Could it be shorter?
• Is it defensible? Is there a careless claim that will destroy
ethos?
• Will is cause collateral damage?
• Am I ready to follow up, if it works?
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