Speechwriting & Public Affairs Conference
Thursday, March 31, 2022 | VIRTUAL
11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ET
Bridging the Divide to Reconnect and Rebound
Strengthen reputation • Speak with purpose and power
Persuade and influence • Control crises • Lead with empathy
Unite with storytelling • Network and learn
Public affairs professionals and speechwriters wield a unique power to bridge divides—to inform and inspire, to persuade and influence. Never have those skills been more needed over the 34 years we’ve hosted this conference.
That’s why we’re bringing together the brightest minds in the field to help you take those skills to the next level—and bring your various audiences together while communicating your ideas and initiatives. If you want to reconnect, rebound and re-engage your stakeholders at a time when they’re looking for leadership and solutions—then Ragan’s Speechwriting & Public Affairs Conference is where you want to be.
Join us on Thursday, March 31, for this fast-paced virtual conference to learn the latest public affairs strategies, speechwriting secrets and proven tactics you need to move your mission and messages forward.
Top 10 things you’ll learn at this conference:
- Writing powerful speeches: Essential elements and storytelling secrets from past White House speechwriters, government insiders and corporate scribes
- The science of persuasion: How to craft clear, compelling and convincing messages no matter what divisive issue or critical hot button is grabbing attention
- Bridging the divide: How to build consensus across your stakeholder groups as we move forward with caution and optimism
- Public affairs strategy in 6 steps: Your guide to inform and influence no matter what’s next—from identifying objectives and channels to impact tracking
- Crisis plans and war games: Templates to handle the “comms before the storm”
- Media resource kit: Eight trust indicators you can use to battle misinformation in everything you do—from lobbying and speechwriting to handling the press
- Social media in the age of purpose: What government communicators can (and can’t) do on social media—plus new social media ideas to reach your critical stakeholders
- New leadership skills: How to transform execs and experts into leaders—plus CA Treasurer Fiona Ma’s tips to win greater engagement with empathetic leadership
- Be a goldfish: What Ted Lasso teaches public affairs and speechwriters
- What’s next: Top trends that will reshape public affairs and public speaking
Register today. Once registered, you'll be able to join the private LinkedIn group right away and network with your peers.
YOU’LL ALSO RECEIVE THESE EXCLUSIVE BONUS MATERIALS:
- Pandemics, Politics, Purpose: A New Model for Public Affairs
- Speechwriters Inclusive Language Tip Sheet
Don't miss this unique opportunity!
Each registration comes with a personalized Speech Writing & Public Affairs Conference Certificate of Completion for attending
AGENDA
Join to discover new principles, best practices and programs to improve your public affairs and speechwriting results.
If anyone knows how to navigate headwinds in a partisan world, it’s a former presidential and mayoral candidate who launched a new political party. Join for hard-won lessons to help you find common ground to move your own public affairs agendas forward. You’ll hear:
- How to communicate more effectively with a divided public
- Presidential candidate speech insights: Soundbites that resonate
- How to create a platform from nothing based on a unifying message
- How to energize and engage followers—even when the news isn’t good
- How to establish yourself or your exec as a national figure—hard-won lessons from national and local political campaigns that faced significant headwinds
Join this panel for practical takeaways from former White House insiders, current government speechwriters and top corporate executive comms directors—so your leadership can deliver the goods when it matters most. You’ll discover:
- Empathizer-in-chief: How execs can “speak from the heart” to communicate
greater authenticity and connect emotionally with audiences - Essential elements and storytelling magic: Techniques for transforming complex
issues into earworms, viral concepts and stories that move hearts and minds - Balancing feeling with facts: How leaders can communicate truth with storytelling
- DE&I guide: Insights for bridging the divide with the language of inclusivity
- Bonus: Secrets of career success in speechwriting and public affairs
The psychology of influence and its communication application is explained in relatable, applicable terms that allow participants to tap into the power of persuasion. We explore compelling social forces that affect all humans for as long as humanity has existed. Participants will:
- Discover research-backed science to strengthen your public affairs program
- Gain insights into understanding why and how to get people to say yes
- Realize how persuasion science is used on you in your everyday life
- Learn how to apply persuasion communication theories
- Know how to change a person or group’s behavior
Ted Lasso is the king of streaming because he’s just so damn positive! That’s the salve we all needed during the pandemic. But he also shows how much audiences want a sense of empathy and fun from leadership. Join for a riff on what execs can learn from Ted. You’ll hear:
- Soundbite magic: Why Ted’s team speeches work best when they fail
- What Ted’s “Be a Goldfish” quote teaches us about soft skills for execs
- A tough row to HOE: Why the public want more Hope, Optimism and Empathy
from leadership—and how to provide it - There’s no “I” in TEAM: How to look for and foster potential in others
- Offense or defense? When to talk or not—and how much you should tell
- Come ready to share with a favorite Ted Lasso quote
Over 75% of companies have rebranded since the onset of the pandemic—many looking for a more approachable and authentic image. But rebranding is also a sound strategy nonprofits, government agencies and civil service organizations seeking to rectify branding inconsistencies, remedy outdated logos or reconnect with stakeholders in new ways. In this case study, you’ll learn:
- Benefits of rebranding—for corporations and civil service alike
- Engagement: Your role in rebranding, including how to convince execs
and involve your frontline employees in the process - Design drivers and how to identify important rebranding elements
- What should be in a communications plan to support design development
- Rollout FAQ: How to deploy a stealth rebrand launch
Integrated communications is fast becoming a reality, even in sectors resistant to change (like government). After all, campaigns are far more effective and comprehensive if all our disciplines work together. Join to see “mixternal” comms at work in the real world—and how public affairs can lead the charge. You’ll learn:
- The new role of public affairs in integrated communications
- How NASA shed silos between internal communications and public affairs
- How to create a hybrid team so internal and public affairs work in lockstep—the tools and channels to get the most out of your integrated teams
- How to ensure consistent “mixternal” messaging and storytelling
- Achieving trifecta: Where and how executive communications fits in
Teams that anticipate organizational and operational vulnerabilities can avoid crises and mitigate reputational damage . Join to hear how to assess vulnerabilities, gauge risk tolerance and mobilize stakeholders to successfully navigate crises.. You'll learn:
- Vulnerability assessment guide: Processes to ID your top potential crises
- Message strategy: How to pre-draft messaging for any contingency
- Examples and insights to help execs and frontliners maintain a uniform voice
- When to act: Steps to navigate your team through a storm before capsizing
- Bonus: After Ivy Cohen's session, we'll have a guest spotlight with Philip Ballard
Most government communicators are limited in what they can do on social media. But while it’s tougher for government communicators to use social media, you can breakthrough with creative solutions and a better understanding of the rules of engagement—not to mention, the latest best practices. This session breaks it all down. You’ll learn:
- Key benefits of social media for government communicators (including during crises)
- Navigating roadblocks, restrictions and regulations: How KCMO embraced social media to provide value and share local success stories in a more strategic way
- Managing a “Big 5”: What’s working in public affairs and executive comms on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and (yes) even Nextdoor
- Fun ideas to try: Creative reels and fun stories to engage and advocate
- How and when to champion change and address hot button issues on social media
The pandemic years may be blurring together, but one thing stands out: Audiences want resilient leaders in uncertain times. Without a strong message and presence from them, you risk losing stakeholder trust or falling prey to public backlash. In this session, you’ll discover how to establish your leaders as trusted advocates to those you serve. You’ll learn how to:
- Position your organization as a trusted resource for helpful information
- Emphasize transparency in speeches to keep your reputation strong
- Purpose at the podium: Take a stance on social justice that impact your mission
- Messaging blueprints: Infuse your leadership messages with empathy and humanity to connect deeply with employees, donors, community members, legislators and more
- Tap your subject matter experts for thought leadership efforts—not just top executives
Another pending, divisive election will soon dominate the news cycle. But you’ve still got a job to do that includes news to share, announcements to make, content to post, initiatives to launch and stakeholders to inform. Join for smarter ways to get the word out in a fractured media landscape where even the press is pushing its POV. You’ll learn:
- Big wins in the disinformation wars: What others are doing to combat disinformation
- Your role in truth telling and fact sharing in the age of conspiracy and optional facts
- The 8 Trust Indicators™—a resource kit to spot and handle questionable outlets
- Insights from new studies about how media mistruths skew public opinion and how
the press, public affairs and all communicators can help by focusing on solutions - How to use tools like the "Truth Sandwich" when the media calls—and your own content
Today, Fiona Ma is California’s 34th State Treasurer and the primary banker for the world’s fifth-largest economy. But she’s had to overcome countless obstacles on her journey. From being the first Asian-American woman to serve as California Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore to authoring 60+ laws advocating for those without power or a voice, she’s overcome roadblocks with an authentic communication style and win-win mindset. Join for her hard-won insights into building bridges—and consensus. You’ll hear:
- The glass and bamboo ceiling: How Fiona overcame adversity on her own journey
- DE&I insights and takeaways you can use to help level playing fields for others
- Authentic storytelling: How Fiona works to inspire and uplift by sharing her story
- Creating a win-win: How to overcome polarization to find common ground
- The role of empathetic leadership in restoring the public’s trust in institutions
- Quick speechwriting insights and tips Fiona has learned on the road and at the podium
- Getting real and having fun: How Fiona balances official and personal brands on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (think doggy posts and Fiona singing karaoke)
- Optimism and the press: Why the future looks bright—plus hard-won lessons to get the media to eschew the easy “gotcha” and negative stories in favor of upbeat coverage
We’ll share the top tactics and strategies from the virtual conference as you prepare to implement these ideas for your organization.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
You should attend if you spend at least a quarter of your time in any of these areas:
Public affairs • Executive Communications • Speechwriting • Government Relations • Public Information • Reputation management • Crisis communications • PR • Internal Communications • Issues Management • Social media • Storytelling • Writing • Media relations
| Early Bird Rates (until 03/18/22) |
Regular Rates | |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | $749 | $849 |
| Ragan Insider Registration | $649 | $749 |
| Nonprofit Registration | $599 | $699 |
Phone registrations and group pricing: For group orders please contact our customer service team at 800-878-5331 or cservice@ragan.com
Top reasons to attend this virtual conference
- You’ll learn from and interact with the top public affairs and speechwriting experts.
- You'll get essential takeaways you can apply right away.
- You'll be able to watch from anywhere.
- You'll receive all presentation slides and handouts.
- You'll get access to the on-demand recording for 12 months.
Thank you to our current sponsors and partners
Join us as an event sponsor and meet your target audience, showcase your products, present thought leadership, generate leads and boost your brand.
Here are a few examples of opportunities we offer:
- Exhibitor booths
- Speaking sessions on our main agenda
- Lightning talks on our main agenda
- Pre-conference workshop sessions
- Bonus breakfast sessions
- Networking lunches
- Private networking dinners
- Cocktail receptions
- One-on-one meetings
- Networking passes
- Marketing collateral and on-site branding
- Ragan and PR Daily Awards sponsorship
For more information on opportunities available at this specific event, reach out to sponsorship@ragan.com.
Ragan events are educational, inspirational and fun!
Our sponsors are an important part of the success of each event.
Registration
For questions related to event registrations, please contact:
Shallon Blackburn
Customer Service & Sales Manager
ShallonB@ragan.com
Sponsorship
If you’re interested in sponsoring this event, please contact:
Hannah Lavelle
Sales & Client Relations Manager
HannahL@ragan.com
Program
For information on programming and speakers please contact:
Justin Joffe
Strategic Program Manager
justinj@ragan.com
PRESENTED BY:
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