SEARCH Communications Report Greta Harrison Project and Communication

SEARCH Communications Report Greta Harrison Project and Communication Officer

SEARCH Website • • http: //www. climatehistory. com. au launched March 2010 Good online visibility. Search engine optimised: top results for Google searches for “climate history”, “First Fleet climate” Averages between 20 – 50 hits per day Hits and inquiries grew significantly during recent media coverage – over 100 per day

Electronic Communications • Partners’ E-Newsletter developed using online electronic marketing application Mail Chimp • Three newsletters sent this year. Archived newsletters available on the website: www. climatehistory. com. au/publicati ons/reports-for-members • Next e-news to be distributed Jan/Feb 2011 • Contributions always needed! Please contact Greta

Media Coverage

Media Coverage • The SEARCH Project has been in the news throughout the year – prompting increased web hits, email inquiries and offers of assistance • May/June PAGES Aus 2 K meeting hosted at Earth Sciences saw a prominent page three photo story in The Age • September: First Fleet climate study led to extensive coverage in Australia/New Zealand, including: – – – – • The Age / Sydney Morning Herald SBS World News Australian Geographic ABC local radio and Radio National The Daily Telegraph The Courier-Mail The Adelaide Advertiser The Dominion Post (NZ) Thanks to our Library partners for great exposure in your in-house magazines

Oz. Docs and Volunteer Pilot Project • Oz. Docs database created in early 2010 by external developer in conjunction with the SEARCH team. • The volunteer pilot is now underway with a core group of 4 hardworking volunteers at the State Library of NSW. • The volunteer team has created over 400 extracts, comprising diurnal meteorological tables and accounts of weather events. • Their searches focus on Sydney Gazette and NSW Advertiser editions during years of interest to the project – identified as significant dry or wet years. • Our top volunteer is Gary Cook, who has created over 270 extracts alone! • The NLA featured SEARCH in their Trove e-news, leading to enthusiastic new enquiries. Trove volunteers will help by creating climate history keyword tags.

Year 2 and 3 Communications Strategy • Print content: – – • Online content – – • • Powerhouse Library talks University of Melbourne free public lecture series Touring exhibition – • Dynamic web content – interactive features (rainfall reconstruction) Social media integration for SEARCH site and volunteer community Public talks program – – – • One page fact sheets Schools materials Poster Glossy publication (Year 3) Planning and funding application in early 2011 Library research guides Further suggestions? The Heads of Port Jackson N. S. W. from off the North Head - a squall, 1846, G. E. Peacock. Image: State Library of NSW

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