Sunday, August 10, 2014 how the referendum is affecting one scottish comms person
It's dominating debate in Scotland and could have a siesmic effect on the rest of Britain. Here one public sector comms officer writes about their frustrations about not having a voice because they are politically restricted.
by Anonymous Communications Officer
So far the impending referendum hasn’t affected my work – it’s my personal channels of communication I’m finding tricky to navigate.
I’ve never been known to keep schtum about much, especially if I’m passionate about something and I’m passionate about Scottish independence. To me most of the economic and political arguments from both sides are complete hogwash – no one can possibly know the outcomes. To me the vote is all about Scottish identity and creating a Scotland for my children and grandchildren, not about how much better or worse off I’ll be.
I work in a politically restricted post and it’s really difficult not to jump into conversations on social media and tell it like it is. It’s difficult not to share and retweet things I agree with, although I’ll admit to the odd Facebook share. It’s impossible to attend debates in community halls and not clap, cheer or boo. It’s been difficult to resist sharing nudge tips with activists out in the street when passing by. I can’t wear a Yes badge or put a sticker in my car window.
For the first time in my life I haven’t had a voice and that has been an interesting experience. It has highlighted the plight of many voiceless people around the world. I may not be able to voice an opinion but at least I get to vote.
We’re expecting an 85 per cent turnout on September 18 so my job will get interesting after that – how do we keep those people interested enough to make the effort to get off the couch and come out to vote at the next election, whatever that may be because if all goes well the people of Scotland won’t have to vote in the UK parliamentary election next May.
Interesting times.
The author is a communications officer in the public sector in Scotland.
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Reader Comments (2)
This is an ethical problem with multiple loyalties at its heart, yet with common values and principles. Shows perfectly how comms professionals have to juggle conflicting loyalties and arrive at the best decision even when the information is all to hand and the governing principles are consistent. Not the only possible decision, note: the best one possible given the characteristics of the particular situation. Silence can be frustrating, but it's often the best choice. At other times, it definitely would not be. Alan Taman
My sympathy with the experiences of Anonymous is heightened by the fact that the official guidance does actually say we've got a duty to promote participation and democracy. The reality however is that since the debate became aligned on party lines, it's a high risk option for people to consider doing a large amount of work on the referendum (other than supporting and amplifying the Electoral Commission's work). Even if a complaint is not upheld, the process itself can be a real distraction/ stressful for the people involved.