iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

If a policy change blindsides you, having these elements in place can help you react fast. Let's hope Labour listens up!

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This one works because it has: - A strong topline backed by new data - Case studies that show real-life impact - Shocking anecdotes from the benefits system - Punchy, headline-worthy quotes

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When a big policy announcement is coming, journos will be actively looking for stories. A well-placed piece can force the gov to respond and make headway in shifting the debate.

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PIP benefits: 'Worrying' number of teens lose payments at age 16

Seeing a great PR lobbying response from the charity sector to the latest welfare cut proposals - advocacy doesn't have to be months in the making 🧵 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

More than 124,000 young people have had claims for adult disability benefits refused, the BBC finds.

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Freya Barnes @freyabarnes.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

At a time when we all need a little more positivity, it was lovely to help get this story into the Guardian. So many third sector leaders have a fascinating backstory about why we're doing what we do and why the things that matter to us matter. We should be telling them! gwitness.org/41uBGev

gwitness.org

A moment that changed me: I was 16, gay and bullied for it. Then my father wrote to the Guardian …

Britain in the 90s seemed to see homosexuality as something shameful. My father told the world how proud he was of me

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Totally agree but I would go even further and say the left also needs to be engaging with the people who are tempted towards voting reform too. There are plenty of shared concerns among these groups.

The psychology of changing people’s minds (facts and logic don’t work)

If progressive movements want to influence public opinion, they need to step outside their bubbles and use these principles I wrote a bit more on this here: wix.to/AZ89NA9 And I'd love to hear where people have seen campaigns get this right

wix.to

If facts alone were enough to change people’s minds and get them on board with a cause, the world would have stopped debating climate change decades ago. But psychology tells us people don’t change th...

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🤝The message comes from a trusted voice – this matters as much as the message itself. If people don’t trust your messenger, they won’t hear you 👥 It taps into shared values – people listen when something aligns with their own values, even if they don’t fully agree with your argument (yet)

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🪞They see themselves in the story – people connect through personal experiences. If they can’t see how an issue affects their lives, they won’t engage. 🤯 They don’t feel backed into a corner – when people feel judged, they dig in. Change happens when there’s space for reflection, not defensiveness.

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If you only engage with people who already agree with you, how do you expect to change minds? Too many campaigns focus on what should convince people rather than what actually does. The psychology of persuasion tells us people shift their views when:

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Freya Barnes @freyabarnes.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Why do some campaigns fail to shift public opinion, while others break through? Research last week from @moreincommonuk.bsky.social shows progressive activists (like me and lots of you) are less likely to collaborate with political rivals than other groups. That’s a huge problem 🧵

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Yeah but it's so warm and cosy!

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Freya Barnes @freyabarnes.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Have I found the loveliest coffee place to work from in London?

Freya Barnes @freyabarnes.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Been saying this for months. My hope is they'll singlehandedly destroy the populist movement through the scale of their fuck up

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Freya Barnes @freyabarnes.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Oh so good to know thanks Hannah - I will 🙂

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Freya Barnes @freyabarnes.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

As someone who is considering selling their shared ownership flat in London this is.. worrying! So helpful to be aware of the issues though 🙏

Freya Barnes @freyabarnes.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Winter in this country is absolutely unacceptable and I don't know why we all continue to put up with it.

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Freya Barnes @freyabarnes.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Charities will need to think harder than ever about delivering the right content for online and social journalism to get our vital issues covered, and thinking most of all about video.

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Freya Barnes @freyabarnes.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

This is not only horrendous for the journalists but will make it so much harder for the paper to report on important social issues - and for us charity PR people to get our stories over the line.

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Freya Barnes @freyabarnes.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Sometimes you just can't beat a good hut.

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Freya Barnes @freyabarnes.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

A blow out celebration for the end of January instead of the beginning of it.

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Yes agree I think they'll have to introduce it eventually

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We’re building something better here. But while Twitter still has influence, sadly ignoring it completely doesn't feel like an option. How’s everyone else handling this? Happy to compare notes.

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➡ Watch media trends. Like it or not, journalists still use Twitter. PR people need to track what’s bubbling up—whether to jump in or shut something down ➡ Invest in better spaces. If Twitter collapsed tomorrow, would your comms strategy survive? Now’s the time to shift audiences to Bluesky etc

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So even if we’re not posting, it's still worth paying attention. My approach: ➡ Use it for risk management rather than engagement. Keep an eye on misinformation, narratives, mentions of your org ➡ Keep a minimal presence. If you still have an account use it strategically not for community-building

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Staying risks feeding a platform that’s actively boosting right-wing populism and misinformation. Why give free content to a site that’s working against the causes we fight for? Because narratives take hold there before spilling out elsewhere. If we’re not watching, we’re not ready to respond.

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Twitter is a mess. We all know it. That’s why most of us aren’t there anymore. I saw this quote in Politico today and, very painfully, being in charity comms and campaigns I have to agree. Twitter still shapes headlines. Politicians and bad actors use it to push narratives. So what do we do?🧵

Freya Barnes @freyabarnes.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

I see there are still far too many people online desperately trying to have edgy opinions about The Beatles. Can't we all just be allowed to enjoy the things we enjoy?

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Freya Barnes @freyabarnes.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

This is a weird take especially since a survey showed one in three gen z are either fans or familiar with the Beatles... the comparison is insane. They're part of our cultural consciousness

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Freya Barnes @freyabarnes.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

I'm not a huge fan of Tom Watson but he's one of the very few politicians who has taken on the press and tried to regulate them more effectively, so got to give him that

Freya Barnes @freyabarnes.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

The way Prince Harry has taken on the tabloids is nothing short of heroic. I hope there's some reflection from broadcast media here about how often their talking points are still set by unreliable press stories. Our media ecosystem has to change in so many ways. www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/prin...

independent.co.uk

Tom Watson praises 'predator' Prince Harry as Sun owner offers ‘full apology’

Lord Tom Watson described the Duke of Sussex as a "predator" in a statement after Prince Harry settled his legal action against News Group Newspapers (NGN), who offered a “full and unequivocal apology...

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Reposted by Freya Barnes

James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

So that’s the Mirror & Murdoch down, only the Mail to go. And people still wonder why UK newspapers are so vile to Prince Harry & Meghan…

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Reposted by Freya Barnes

Faine Greenwood @faineg.com · 20/01/2025

Everyone excusing Elon Musk’s behavior due to his alleged autism should be chased into the sea with pitchforks it’s both profoundly insulting to autistic people and also obviously not true

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Mad isn't it! And he's still going strong - good old Pooh 🙂

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So, if you’re wondering how to be a better thought leader there are worse questions to ask yourself than 'what would Pooh do?' And if you get stuck on (or in) something, you can also ask me!

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🍯 Finally, he's pretty inspirational. Winnie the Pooh was written in the 1920s and we're still quoting him today. I'll leave you with a great one: "You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” 🫶

🍯 He's a great storyteller, but it's not just about his words. His stories are often about bringing people (or animals) together. And as a visionary he makes everyone in his world feel like they're part of something bigger.

🍯 Pooh never tries to be anything he isn't. No curated persona or polished perfection.. his influence comes from being real, flaws and all.

🍯 Pooh mastered the art of simplicity. He doesn't overthink; he just has original thought. He leads by being kind, relatable, unique.. and occasionally stuck in a honey jar or a front door.

Daft Saturday post but it's It's Winnie the Pooh day today and bear with me (pun intended), but here's why I love him as a role model for aspiring thought leaders 🧵🍯