Pledge | hope-based comms

Take the hope-based pledge

Hope-based communications is a simple five-shift approach anyone can use to create positive messages. We invite you to take this voluntary pledge, joining artists, educators, influencers, communicators, campaigners and social justice workers who want to help transform social change communications, and their daily lives, by applying this approach.

The hope-based pledge

I will aspire, throughout my work, to apply these five shifts to my communications whereever possible.

fear

hope

1

I will try to trigger positive emotions for positive action.

I will try to nurture emotions in my audience that are conducive to empathy and togetherness. Other emotions like sadness and anger still play a role in my storytelling, but my goal is to make my audiences believe that a better future is possible.

2 problem

solution

I will offer alternative possibilities.

I will show people that we have a solution, how it works, and how things will look afterwards. We still need to highlight problems, but in the context of how things should be instead.

against

for

3

I will celebrate the behaviour I want to see.

I will frame my messages with the values I stand for. I will base my arguments on the progressive worldview built on empathy, responsibility to care, hope and shared humanity.

threat

opportunity

4

I will show how things should be.

I will frame my messages with the values I stand for. I will celebrate the behaviour I want to see. I will base my arguments on the progressive worldview built on empathy, responsibility to care, hope and shared humanity.

5 victims

everyday heroes

I will celebrate the humanity in all people

I will try to let people tell their own story – even if that means talking less about the most shocking aspects in order to focus on everyday, human aspects. I will listen to, and cultivate empathy for, my audience so that they too can see themselves in my story.

sign the pledge

Thank you for taking part in this global pledge, whether as an individual or an organisation. You will receive a special digital badge to include on your website or share on your social media channels, so you invite others to also sign up.