A data 'hack' that's Strictly 💃 for Comms and PR professionals
Got basic data skills? Collaborate and learn using a fun 'Strictly' dataset. Plus great webinar on using data in PR is on YouTube.
Work in Comms and PR? Already using data to some extent, to find stories and insights? Here's a chance to collaborate, crunch and connect with liked-mind peers.
[Booking information]
With growing interest from communications and PR professionals around how hands-on data skills and literacy boost projects and careers, this event brings together those who are working hands-on with data already for some fun collaboration.
On Day 1 of this week-long hack, you'll be sent a newly mined dataset - all 2,000+ dances that have ever taken place on Strictly Come Dancing.
Participants will start by working up some ideas/hypotheses and then get stuck into exploring, crunching and visualising, to see what interesting stories and angles can be found.
If you want to, you can also bring other Strictly data into the mix.
Week-long hacking, in your own time
The 'week' will run over a weekend to hopefully allow people with different availability and workloads to have a go, and we'll use a collaborative Google Slide deck to share our progress (and problems) through the seven days.
Everyone who participates will be invited to a wrap-up session (Thursday 15 December), where there will be a chance to hear from different people/teams about what they found, and - importantly - how they did it, as well as the challenges they encountered and advice on tools and techniques. We’ll also record the session for those that can't make it.
To participate in the hack you’ll need three things;
to be working in PR or communications (or studying for a related degree)
(at least) some basic know-how in filtering, sorting and manipulating data in Excel or Sheets (or something else if you prefer).
have £9.21 available to buy a ticket
The aim here is to kick off something regular that brings together a group of PR/comms professionals who are actively interested in getting hands-on with data, and using public, open source and / or unstructured data in their work.
Outcomes will hopefully be… new ideas, knowledge and skills that can be taken away and woven into everyday projects and approaches.
For a great cause
Whetstone Communications will be doing the data mining and administration work for this hack pro bono, with all money raised from ticket sales going to Mellor Country House - a superb charity on the border of Stockport and the Peak District that is dedicated to providing short self catering breaks for groups, families, carers and individuals primarily from the nearby urban areas who could not, otherwise, have a break at all.
To book a place, please follow the Eventbrite link - and if you have any questions please contact alex@whetstonecomms.com.
And finally…
Back in September Stephen Waddington (no relation) ran a brilliant webinar on creating and pitching data stories to the media. There were 4 brilliant speakers, providing some great ideas on how to use data creatively in campaigns and storytelling. The full session is now up online - it’s well worth a watch!