Guidelines for NETZWERK Correspondents

NETZWERK Correspondents

Framework

NETZWERK Correspondents research and document examples of good practice from all levels of Award work in their own and other Operating Authorities. This work requires a thorough understanding of what constitutes high quality Award work as well as basic standards of journalism. (See also description of quality standards in Handbook vol. 3: Working with the Award and Basic Standards of Journalism in the Leader’s Manual.)

NETZWERK Correspondents rely upon regular contact and insight into Award work in their area in order to give this work positive recognition in the Award Association’s media. This requires

1. Positive working relationships

2. Maintaining contacts

3. Checking on media coverage (especially in local newspapers and the organisation’s website)

4. Participation in events (especially local leaders or management courses, on-site consultation, annual planning meetings and Award ceremonies).

NETZWERK Correspondents work naturally with Award Coordinators and media representatives of their Operating Authority. Other Regional Representatives can also be valuable resources:

1. Consultants are tasked to notice examples of good practice

2. Assessors in Wild Country Areas can report on good expedition topics or areas

3. Trainers collect examples of good practice from all areas during Leader’s Courses.

The Electronic Record Book is a good source of insight into participants’ experience of the Award including their experience of the promise “There is more in you than you think!” Exciting individual events or a particularly successful overall programme may serve as a basis for an interview in which the participant can offer more background information for a testimonial.

Skills

NETZWERK Correspondents must understand the significance of examples of good practice for Award development, be good at networking and be good writers. Good photographs are also helpful. More than for other Regional Representatives, personal initiative is needed to plan and pursue opportunities throughout the year. For this reason, some basic experience with journalism is needed, for example with a student newspaper, with the organisation’s website, with a local newspaper or writing for the Award’s NETZWERK.

Guidelines and Help

NETZWERK Correspondents will rely on the following publications:

1. The entire Handbook v.3: Working with the Award, especially chapters on Award development*

2. Instructions for NETZWERK in the Leader’s Manual

3. The German Pressekodex (‘Press Code’).

The Pressemappe contains also contains helpful instructions for correspondents in German language.

Examples of Good Practice

Fundamentals

Examples of good practice can come from all levels of programme work:

1. Participation, such as individual experiences of participants

2. Supervision of Award sections and of general participation

3. Management of the Award.

Testimonials showing the experience of participants as well as examples of successful implementation of items from the Tool kit are always in demand. Keeping an eye on media coverage is essential, as well as tapping into live sources of information such as

1. Award activities (including preparation for expeditions), reflection activities and special sessions with participants

2. Annual Award events such as kick-off, annual planning meetings and Award ceremonies

3. Special events such as leaders or management courses, workshops or on-site consultation.

Format

The portrayal of good practice can take any available journalistic format (see also Pressemappe). However, the basic principle of quality over quantity should be applied. Main forum is the NETZWERK, which contains a special section for good practice. Selected articles will also be published in the newsletter for Operating Authorities.

* This is currently under review. Until further notice, the EFQM brochure applies.