Welcome to Econnect Communication's September 2002 newsletter. This month we're trying out a new format and a new way of emailing, so your feedback would be welcome!

Regards,

The team at Econnect Communication

(Lin Martin, Jenni Metcalfe, Louise Ralph, Michelle Riedlinger on assignment in South Africa, and Mia Thurgate - helping us out for a few months)

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You've experienced it - the grating tune of a mobile phone cuts through your moment in the cinema, a restaurant or a meeting.

We have become increasingly bound to our mobile phones - and in the process lost all sense of place, manners and priorities. Like Pavlov's dog we respond instantly to the ringing bell.

Recently, a friend's husband was killed while watering young trees on his nature strip. Why? Because someone driving past leaned down to pick a ringing mobile phone up off the car floor. The car swerved, mounted the curb and ran him down, killing him instantly.

We need to start a revolution - and we need to start it NOW. It's very simple - it begins with the "off" button.

Ask yourself:

• Is "the call that may come" as important as what I am doing right now?
• Should this call take priority over the person or people I am with now?
• What's the worst thing that could happen if I'm not available to take a call?
• Will the people around me or with me be disturbed/offended if my phone rings or I take a call?
• Do I need to make this call right now? Is it a convenient time for this person to take my call?
• Where is the "off" button on my phone?

Mobile phones have made us less considerate of other people. It's a sad indictment of our collective manners when every performance, meeting or movie has to be prefaced with a request to turn off mobile phones. It's even worse when one rings five minutes later.and it's yours.

There was a time when you left work, went home and if someone wanted to contact you they waited until the morning. Increasingly, we are under pressure to be on call 24:7.

We need to remind ourselves that most of the time people - and jobs - can wait. People can and do leave messages.and you are allowed to have a life.

So spread the word (do it by txt msgN, if U mst) - manage your mobile phone, don't let it manage you.

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"Promoting practicable measures for access to the results and benefits arising from biotechnologies based upon genetic resources, in accordance with articles 15 and 19 of the Convention, including through enhanced scientific and technical cooperation on biotechnology and biosafety, including the exchange of experts, training human resources and developing research-oriented institutional capacities."

This may be more difficult to achieve than government's even realise, particularly if we don't learn from events such as I've described.

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It may seem odd to be talking about courtesy, etiquette or manners when dealing with the media, but this can be very important for developing relationships with journalists.

Such relationships help in one's quest to gain media coverage and help to ensure the science is reported accurately. Here are some tips to help you develop good relationships with the media:

• If a journalist calls, and you promise to get back to them within a certain timeframe then do so!
• If you are holding a media event, ensure journalists are given clear directions and try and make parking as accessible to the event as possible
• If a journalist calls and want to interview you, be honest - explain that you're not the right person (and perhaps suggest someone else who is), that you're not ready to go to the media yet, or that you're in the middle of sensitive commercial negotiations.
• If you put out a media release/alert, include business and after hours contact numbers on the release for the people who can be interviewed, and for any media liaison officers - and make sure these people are available. There is nothing worse than trying to contact a scientist who has just left the country for a six- week sabbatical!
• Provide refreshments at media events and media conferences
• If you are inviting journalists to attend a scientific conference, don't expect them to pay registration fees and try to ensure food and social events are complimentary.
• If you offer travel expenses to journalists to attend a media event or conference that is away from their normal office, then do so on the clear understanding that you are not demanding published stories as a result. Journalists still need to exercise their independent news judgement, and ultimately it is their editor or news director's decision about whether any story is published.
• Give journalists plenty of notice of key papers being published or media events that are happening - some magazines or TV programs may require several months. Most daily news outlets like at least 2-3 days notice of important events.
• If you have embargoed a media story for a certain date and time - don't allow a favoured journalist to run the story early. Beware of giving an exclusive story to one media outlet when it is a major story that journalists should be given equal access to.
• Lastly. when a journalist does a good job on your story, let them know! Don't abuse them if the story comes out with inaccuracies - instead ask yourself if the mistakes really matter to the audience of that media outlet. if they do then call the journalist to find out what went wrong. It may be that you didn't explain yourself clearly. Or it could be that a sub-editor has changed the story without checking back with the journalist.

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The first time I came across the term 'networking skills' in a job description, I thought it was referring to computers! While the term may have only arisen in the last decade or so, the concept is not new. What has changed is our increasing reliance on developing networks as a source of information, advice, recommendations, support, work opportunities and even friendships.

The art of networking is a vital and valuable communication tool. Make an effort to develop your skills in this area. Practice makes perfect certainly holds true for networking.

Develop your skills in a non-threatening environment like a party or dinner hosted by a friend or well-known colleague. Watch how other people interact and network at professional functions, conferences and seminars and learn from your observations.

Here are ten top networking etiquette tips¹:

1. Make the effort to approach the people you are interested in meeting - be proactive! The fact that you made the effort to seek them out and talk to them is flattering, and if you are polite and friendly, most people will talk to you.
2. Listen closely and attentively to what people say to you. There is nothing more off-putting than trying to talk to someone who is totally distracted. If the setting you are in has too many distractions, politely suggest moving somewhere else or setting aside another time to talk.
3. Allow people to finish their responses to your questions without interrupting.
4. Always, always follow up when you say you will, and don't wait too long to do so.
5. Make a point of remembering a few details from previous conversations. It may help to jot a few notes after talking to someone you want to keep in touch with. This will help you to start conversation next time, and shows your interest.
6. Extend the hand of friendship to all. Pointedly ignoring people or being rude to someone you think can't help you will be remembered. You never know when or where you might meet again. Remember that person standing next to you may just know someone that you should meet!
7. Keep a few open-ended questions on hand to start conversations. This will help you to overcome those awkward first moments. Remember questions = answers, and answers = information. Even talking about the weather or the latest movies can break the ice and give you insights into the person you are talking to.
8. Always carry a business card. If you don't have a card, make one up on the home computer or talk to a printer in your local area. It's also a good idea to carry some blank cards with you for those people who don't have a card with them.
9. Take your camera to conferences, field trips, dinners and any occasion with networking opportunities. Taking photographs is a good way to meet people, and photos provide a visual reminder of who you have met. Make copies of photos and pass them on to your new contacts so they will remember you too!
10. Don't forget that your friends are a good source of contacts too. Most of us think about networking as something to do only in business situations. Tell your friends if you are interested in meeting someone from a particular organisation or background. You never know who your friends might be able to introduce you to!

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Econnect is committed to planning and delivering innovative and effective communication in the natural resource and environmental fields to ensure a sustainable future. We work with clients and their partners in an open, respectful and cooperative manner fulfilling our commitment to conservation and social justice.