--- title: "EP #135 it's all about tone - Australian Electoral Commission" description: Our latest two-part series features Evan Ekin-Smyth, director of media and digital engagement at the AEC. Starting at the beginning, host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, walks with Evan through the early stages of his career. image: https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/hubfs/GC%20Podcast%20Tiles%20(7).png --- Talk to us [![fb](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/hubfs/facebook-brands.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/govcinstitute) [![li](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/hubfs/linkedin-brands.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/govcomms-institute) [![tw](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/hubfs/twitter-brands.svg)](https://twitter.com/govc_institute) [![in](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/hubfs/instagram-brands.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/govcommsinstitute/) [![logo-white](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-white.png?width=197&height=40&name=logo-white.png "logo-white")](https://contentgroup-19617054.hs-sites.com/home-2) [![GCI Horizontal Logo](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/hs-fs/hubfs/GCI%20%20Horizontal%20Logo.png?width=197&name=GCI%20%20Horizontal%20Logo.png "GCI Horizontal Logo")](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/ep-135-its-all-about-tone-australian-electoral-commission) - [Podcast](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast) - [About us](https://www.govcommsinstitute.com/about) - [Contact us](https://www.govcommsinstitute.com/contact) [Back to blog](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast) # EP #135 it's all about tone - Australian Electoral Commission [![](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/hubfs/GC%20podcast%20Tiles%20Instagram%20(1)-min.png)  Evan Ekin- Smyth](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/author/evan-ekin-smyth)  | Aug 22, 2022 2:57:26 PM ![](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/hubfs/GC%20Podcast%20Tiles%20(7).png) The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) played an important role in keeping the recent Federal Election in Australia on track.   Our latest two-part series features Evan Ekin-Smyth, Director of Media and Digital Engagement at the AEC. Starting at the beginning, host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, walks with Evan through the early stages of his career. > "I think you spend, I don't know how much it is, but half of your waking time at work. If you're not doing something that you enjoy, you're probably doing it wrong. I had a look at the field of media and journalism. I thought it looked interesting, that we could do interesting things like having chats to your good self David, and that's a good place to be."   The AEC's Twitter account during the election became a major talking point. The account fought hard against misinformation and disinformation online and the team behind the witty tone were responsible for responding to 150,000 tags on social media through that six week period. > "I started the AEC's Twitter account. I remember writing the document to our executive who probably picked it up with a bemused look on their face and thought, "Do we really want do this?" Luckily they said, yes, because I think it's been a good thing for us." Both episodes in the series cover the 6 key principles Evan and his team used to keep on top of the narrative. Some of the topics covered in part one include: - The need for speed - How the AEC produced content in real-time and why - The importance of being open and regular online --- The Transcript for this episode can be found here: [EP#135 it's all about tone - Australian Electoral Commission with Evan Ekin-Smyth](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/hubfs/Evan%20Ekin-Smyth%20Part%20one%20Ep%23135.pdf) --- ###### About the Author Evan Ekin- Smyth Evan Ekin-Smyth is the director of media and digital engagement at the Australian Electoral Commission. During the recently completed 2022 federal election here in Australia, Evan became a familiar face to some. He and his team were responsible for i... ### On the same subject ### [EP #80: The path to efficacy: record keeping](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/the-path-to-efficacy-record-keeping) [Jen Snyder](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/author/jen-snyder) [David Pembroke](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/tag/david-pembroke), [COVID 19](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/tag/covid-19), [Change management](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/tag/change-management), [Jen Snyder](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/tag/jen-snyder) ### [EP#70 - Creating a long-term relationship with covid-19](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/creating-a-long-term-relationship-with-covid-19) [Garrett Tyler Parker](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/author/garrett-tyler-parker) [Government Communication](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/tag/government-communication), [David Pembroke](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/tag/david-pembroke), [COVID 19](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/tag/covid-19), [Garrett Tyler Parker](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/tag/garrett-tyler-parker) ### [EP#154: Part 1 - Building Relationships, Government Spokespersons and Pandemic Response](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/ep154-part-1-building-relationships-government-spokespersons-and-pandemic-response) [GovComms Institute Team](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/podcast/author/govcomms-institute-team) [![GCI Horizontal Logo](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/hs-fs/hubfs/GCI%20%20Horizontal%20Logo.png?width=200&height=41&name=GCI%20%20Horizontal%20Logo.png "GCI Horizontal Logo")](https://blog.govcommsinstitute.com/) A global platform for government communicators. - SITE MAP - [Home](https://www.govcommsinstitute.com) - [About us](https://www.govcommsinstitute.com/about) - [Contact us](https://www.govcommsinstitute.com/contact) - LEGALS - [Privacy Policy](https://www.govcommsinstitute.com/pirivacy-policy) - [Terms & Conditions](https://www.govcommsinstitute.com/terms-and-conditions) - CONTACT US - [+61 2 6273 0232](tel:+61%202%206273%200232) - [govcomms.institute@contentgroup.com.au](mailto:govcomms.institute@contentgroup.com.au) - [Level 3, 2 Mort Street, Canberra, ACT 2601 GPO Box 2381, Canberra, ACT 2601](https://goo.gl/maps/4iAFuvdJ1KbTe28CA) - Copyright © 2020 contentgroup Theme designed by [Markentive](https://www.markentive.com/)