In recent years, the landscape of communication has undergone a seismic shift, driven by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and a notable decline in trust towards legacy news media....
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Research underscores the profound impact of youth connection on healthy decision-making among teens, significantly reducing risky health behaviors. Strong relationships with adults and peers create a nurturing environment that…
Picture this: you have an appointment with a dermatologist to discuss acne treatments. For the paperwork, you have to use a name that isn’t yours, and makes you uncomfortable when...
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In the ongoing effort to address the epidemic of youth vaping, the recent settlement six states plus the District of Columbia secured against Juul presents a groundbreaking opportunity to secure...
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Empathy and understanding are two of the most important qualities we can bring to marketing and life. When we take the time to connect with others on a deeper level,...
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Colorado’s new youth fentanyl prevention campaign uses positive social norms to educate youth about the dangers of pill misuse. In October, the effort was highlighted at a national youth prevention summit.
In the ongoing efforts against opioid misuse, one event supports a comprehensive opioid prevention strategy: the Annual Medication Takeback Day on Oct. 28. This initiative, which is supported locally through…
Think for a moment about tobacco. For the companies that profit from it, it’s quite possibly the perfect product. Tobacco quickly makes its customers physically dependent – literally addicted…
Climate activists argue that our generations will be the last with a chance to slow climate change before it transforms into a climate disaster. That's a lot of pressure. This...
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Our work for CDPHE’s Forward Together campaign wins a 2023 Heartland Emmy®. See the winning ad!
I really, really liked Twitter. Want to know how much? Since signing up in 2008, I have tweeted 14,000 times…
Can you remember when you got your first bike? Mine had high handlebars and a banana seat. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. What would you do if…
As the climate change conversation heats up, federal and state policymakers will increasingly incentivize consumers to switch to electric vehicles. President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill, which passed the U.S. House in November with...
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Originally published in SWHelper.org. During the pandemic, many people turned to alcohol as a release valve. Indeed, drinking — including day drinking and overdrinking — became somewhat of a punchline,...
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This summer, as the shortcomings of working virtually started to really sink in, SE2 put out a broad call for an officemate to share a physical space. Our 15-person agency...
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Originally published in EdNewsDaily Even before the pandemic, most executives surveyed by McKinsey identified skills shortages at their companies (with more to come), but fewer than half understand how to fill those...
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Change is hard. It’s even more challenging to sustain and build on positive change over time. These 10 steps offer a roadmap for creating and maintaining Perpetual Movements that drive change for good.
Across the country, state-run agencies create programs and resources to advance their missions. Their goals typically center on supporting the health, happiness, prosperity and well-being of their states and residents.
Across the country, state-run agencies create programs and resources to advance their missions. Their goals typically center on supporting the health, happiness, prosperity and well-being of their states and residents.
Instead of recklessly cutting costs while alienating readers, creating a death spiral, the new mission-driven Colorado News Conservancy will embrace a long-term, sustainable model to grow a loyal audience and keep local journalism in local hands.
Government and health care organizations must overcome understandable skepticism toward the vaccine among some minority groups. Following three basic communications practices can help.
As we think about life post-pandemic, organizations and government entities can turn to the Colorado Resiliency Framework for guidance. Explore the framework and see how it can put Colorado back on the path to recovery.
As we think about life post-pandemic, organizations and government entities can turn to the Colorado Resiliency Framework for guidance. Explore the framework and see how it can put Colorado back on the path to recovery.
A new statewide campaign is empowering Coloradans with the facts so that they can make an informed choice when it’s their turn to get vaccinated.
Your stakeholders – whether they are patients, students, employees or parents – want and need to stay informed, understand how COVID-19 is impacting your work, and know about resources that...
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Economists are predicting that the employment rate may not go back to pre-COVID levels until the end of this decade, and that as many as 40 percent of the jobs...
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When I was in my 20s, I was filled with angst. The future seemed a vast and amorphous space. I had moved to Boston to find myself, but often felt...
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In social marketing, individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds are often primary audience targets. That’s because poverty creates tangible inequities that impact the health, access to education and economic opportunity of...
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In my family and workplace, we have watched and talked about the news this week, sharing in the horror and senseless tragedy of George Floyd’s death and the resulting protests...
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We recently hosted a happy hour with our friends from the Communications Network, using it as an opportunity to explore the emerging issue of ungendered and nonbinary communications. A group...
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Like many professional/trade associations, generating interest in their issues and reaching younger members are critical and ongoing challenges. For this installment of the Next 20, we sat down with the...
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Eric Anderson, our co-founder and senior strategist, interviewed SE2 Director of Content and Creative Juan Cabrera about how effective Spanish language communications can help address the pandemic.
During my time at SE2, I’ve been blessed to work on important issues such as preventing kids from smoking and vaping, strengthening community hospitals, providing quality preschool for more young...
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Those of us who work in corporate social responsibility have long trumpeted the benefits of our department. CSR tells our company story and helps build our political capital. It creates...
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Reddit, the social media platform that has coined itself “the front page of the internet” and is home to endless social forums, isn’t as dark and disturbing as some might...
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The social impact generation (i.e., Millennials and Gen-Z) don’t just want products and services that meet their needs; they’re demanding that brands also have a positive social impact. As private-sector...
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By the end of 2021 more than 70 million U.S. households will have a voice device in their home (e.g., Amazon Alexa, Google Home, smart speaker). To put that in...
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According to the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer, the industry standard for measuring consumer trust, only 48 percent of the general population in the United States trusts advertising, falling from 58...
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Integration of bots, artificial intelligence and rich communication services may signal the end of the website and app era…
Kelly Brough is president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, which represents 3,000 companies and their 300,000 employees. Previously she directed an internationally recognized leadership program, served as...
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Two of the hottest issues in any organization are finding/recruiting supporters, donors and advocates, and then keeping them active. Influencer marketing presents new opportunities for nonprofits, associations, advocacy groups and...
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Any conversation about mental health can be complicated by stigma. But when the concern relates to the behavior of a young child, the fear of being labeled or excluded can...
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“A healthy community is a community fueled by productive work and motivated by care for one’s neighbor.” This statement prompted both murmurs of agreement when shared with a room full...
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When SE2 launched 20 years ago, we communicated through landline phones and dial-up Internet. Google didn’t exist yet, so online searches were a slow and hit-or-miss proposition. Large electronic files...
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Search engine optimization (SEO) is of course a top priority when marketing products and services. But it may not be top of mind for nonprofits, foundations, cause-marketing campaigns and behavior...
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In Colorado, youth tobacco usage rates continue to decline, yet a shocking one-in-four high school students in the state vaped within the last 30 days.
There is one place where we’re “winning”: It’s our use and addiction to tobacco products. In fact, we’re killing it.
More than three quarters of Denver Public Schools’ population are students of color. Yet only 25 percent of DPS teachers are of color. The Denver Mayor’s office, DPS and Denver-based...
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Great Outdoors Colorado has been improving our state for 20 years, and in that time it has built 1,148 parks, built or restored 725 miles of trails, and protected 1...
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In the Chronicle of Philanthropy, writer Michael Anft considers the sustainable value achieved through large-scale awareness efforts, such as the ALS Foundation’s ice-bucket challenge. He notes a growing belief that while...
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To effectively motivate people to act (to purchase, to change behavior, to participate, etc.), their values, beliefs and lifestyles must be reflected in the messages and communications strategies we use. That’s why...
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When your website barely supports your business needs and your customers hate using it, everyone loses. But it doesn’t have to be that way. About a year ago, I led...
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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) came to SE2 with a challenge: How best to educate and engage millennials who causally smoke about the slippery slope of...
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Organizations using more traditional forms of media are finding it increasingly difficult to reach their audience and stand out. It’s not surprising given that: Online ad blocking continues to accelerate....
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In Washington, where I started my reporting career, the political action stretched from the lobbying firm offices on K Street to the complex of House and Senate office buildings that...
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If you ever want to feel like an epic underachiever, spend your time with thousands of Teach For America (TFA) alumni. I was reminded of this when I joined 15,000...
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Important issues, and the stories that illustrate their impact, don’t usually cut through the chaos of a reporter’s inbox if there isn’t clear news value. But even if the English-language...
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Lack of access to healthy foods, higher prevalence of stress and built environments that discourage physical activity are just some of the contributing factors. And a recent report finds that we can...
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Today’s communications practice demands projects that are smart, visual, shareable and integrated from top to bottom. This requires a fluid blend of disciplines, skill sets and personnel to develop great...
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This, in turn, puts more pressure on these institutions to develop and implement effective communications strategies. Gone are the days when a public school could rely solely on the neighborhood...
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To cut through the clutter, nonprofits must have a strong communications plan, built on a foundation of sound messaging and compelling stories. The communications challenges and opportunities nonprofits face are...
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Debunking any notion that radio is being eclipsed by the myriad other media options available to us, the study found that the national radio audience hit an all-time high in...
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Following a highly competitive bid process, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) Prevention Services Division selected SE2 to lead communications and advertising for its Tobacco Free Colorado...
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Our in-house owned media expertise could be difference between a communications dud and the next Ice Bucket Challenge. But first let’s define "owned media". It’s pretty straightforward: Owned media is every...
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“Big data will become an historic driver of progress, helping our nation perpetuate the civic and economic dynamism that has long been its hallmark… the digital revolution continues to work...
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I recently attended a communications conference and one story stuck with me. One of the speakers, Paul Smith, shared the story that reminds me of the importance of how we...
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Most of the offerings on the health exchanges are low-cost, high-deductible plans. Good news for many, but not everyone. An unforeseen consequence: Many newly covered consumers from the last enrollment...
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Even someone like me who is (literally) colorblind can see the shift displayed by this graph, produced by the Pew Research Center based on new census data. It shows how...
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We’ve all seen ads that are funny, scary or uplifting. But do they work, prompting the desired action? I recently attended the National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media...
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I was lucky enough to talk with Radioo and help share Radioo’s story. Bullied at a traditional public high school after coming out as a lesbian and then as a...
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Did you know that almost 90 percent of adults are confused by the jargon that the health care industry uses? This problem has only increased as the nation, including our...
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Your audience wants custom content; Give them what they want. Recent studies on content marketing have shown that: 90 percent of people find custom content useful. 78 percent of people...
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So far, it’s crushed and recycled about 800 of these high-polluting junkers. The Colorado Automobile Dealers Association launched this nonprofit and the vast majority of vehicles have been contributed by...
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In fact, more than 5,700 Colorado kids under the age of 18 become new daily smokers, and one-in-three will die from their addiction. Both points prove why it is important...
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Web access has joined pencils and notebooks on the list of basic school supplies. Students need the Internet to complete their homework. Parents need it to monitor their children’s academic...
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Well, how many ways can I say this…. yes, si, oui, ja, sim, ken, jes, hai, ndiyo, haan and na'am. YES, you need a social media policy. Frankly, I am...
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While stories help in all kinds of communications, they are critical in the world of public issues because the problems that our clients are tackling -- healthcare, hunger, smoking regulations...
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