Savvy advocate named NZ Communicator of the Year
MEDIA RELEASE
BlacklandPR and
Massey University School of
Communication
19
February 2017
Savvy advocate named NZ Communicator of
the Year
Former Police Association
President and Labour Party election candidate Greg
O’Connor has been named winner of the Communicator of the
Year Award.
The winner is selected by BlacklandPR and students at Massey University’s School of Communication, Journalism, and Marketing, from New Zealanders who have illustrated communication skills at the national level over the previous year.
BlacklandPR director Mark Blackham said Greg O’Connor was selected because of his ability to get to the nub of an issue and express a position persuasively. Over 2016 Greg spoke on topics such as the number of police and resourcing for burglaries, police shootings and pursuits, and unlicensed guns.
“Greg expresses issues that matter to police, in ways that matter to the public and politicians.
“He describes these issues matter-of-factly, and advances solutions in everyday language.
“There’s a huge skill behind Greg’s apparent plainness of speaking. Moreover, he is bold enough to be clear and unequivocal. That’s why his communication is heard and heeded.”
Greg O’Connor said his approach was to stand back from an issue and assess what mattered to ordinary people.
“You have to figure how your issue is relevant to other people, then express it in ways they relate to. People deserve the respect of an unambiguous position, backed with solid evidence.”
BlacklandPR established the Communicator of the Year award to promote clarity of communication in public life. This year Massey University’s School of Communication, Journalism, and Marketing joined as a partner, assisting with collation and selection of winners.
The
category winners were:
• Business
communicator: Simon Moutter
•
Political communicator: Bill English
•
Local Government communicator: Chloe
Swarbrick
• Science communicator:
Michelle Dickinson
• Sports
communicator: Liam Malone
•
Public Services communicator: Greg
O’Connor
• Commentator:
Jordan Watson (How to Dad)
•
Communicator of the Moment: Duane Major &
Adam Gard'ner
• BlacklandPR Communicator
of the Year: Greg O’Connor
BlacklandPR said
the “stand-out campaign of the year” was run by
Christchurch men Duane Major and Adam Gard’ner to save an
Abel Tasman beach.
Mr Blackham said their approach
demonstrated the value of passion, and a selfless and
relevant request of people.
“The guys asked New Zealanders to place a beach in public hands, and gave them a way to do it. The public filled in the rest. That’s perfect communication,” Mr Blackham said.
Massey University Associate Professor Elizabeth Gray said that students and staff who contributed to the selection process were impressed by the efforts of all the candidates to connect with their audiences.
“Communicating effectively is all about combining sound knowledge with authentic caring. Greg O’Connor epitomises a communicator who cares about his message and about the people he’s talking to,” said Dr Gray.
The Communicator of the Year receives a bespoke Māori kōauau, designed and crafted by Wellington based Māori craftsman and designer Sam Hauwaho. The kōauau is a traditional Māori flute, reflecting the art and history of human communication.
Winner of the inaugural BlacklandPR Communicator of the Year in 2016 was Shamubeel Eaqub.
ENDS