Kill The Megaphone
February 5, 2012 § 9 Comments
The megaphone has become the go-to image for campaigns. At UKYCC, I’m afraid that we used it too.
But doesn’t the megaphone represent everything that’s wrong with campaigns?
- one-way communication
- preachy – ‘I know better than you’
- brash and annoying
- hierarchical
It took me about ten minutes to find the example images from NGOs across the spectrum (see below). To stress, I respect all of these organisations immensely – I am cruelly picking on them to make a broader point about how we present ourselves as campaigners.
- If we’re asking people to join us in campaigning – how many will be turned off by the idea that they have to go and shout at people when they don’t yet feel confident in their understanding of the issue?
- If we’re saying we have to meet people where they’re at – how can we listen when we’re the only ones talking?
- If we need permission from our audience to speak to them, is this a polite way of asking for it?
And to prove my love for the megaphone in practice..
Casper ter Kuile 
Recently I was on a megaphone outside my uni union, trying to drum up support for the Nov 30th Strike and inform people why UCU and other unions were taking the action. I found myself trying very hard not to hector, to use slogans, and rather begin a dialogue – ‘Hey, you, do you have loads of student debt? Do you ever think about pensions?’ etc. V hard to do since the passer-by is, well, a passer-by, you’re not having a conversation. I couldn’t really speak to people through it. So I put it down and gave out leaflets/chatted to people instead.
I think you’re right and I think the megaphone shows emphasis or perhaps confusion about what people think they are here to do when campaigning:
a) tell people what they’re about
b) get people to join up with them.
Megaphones are great for a) (‘we’re occupying this bank because….’), not so good for b) (‘hey, can I talk to you about?’)
Thanks Gloria, yes – wholeheartedly agree!
yes.
Campaigning is a conversation between you and the people around you. Megaphones are one of many ways that we deal with our shyness by creating a barrier between us. That’s what I think.
They are, though, useful for large spontaneous meetings.
Love that insight Adam, yes – it does feel somehow ‘safe’ to put that barrier between you and the crowd. Thanks for sharing.
Dialogue not monologue. Yep, with you all the way. But there are times I just love the megaphone
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Good point well made.
Cheers Chris!
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