Our latest blog post is from Kirsty Meadows, our Head of Communications. Kirsty recalls the wonderful impact of David Attenborough's television series on her as a child and reflects on the communication skills he epitomises.
Let me take you back to the 1970s – 1979 to be precise – seen through the eyes of a curious eight-year-old. With just three TV channels and no on-demand distractions, television was something you shared, gathered around as a family. When I wasn’t at school, I was outside in all weathers: playing until dusk, helping on my dad’s allotment, or heading out on family trips to the countryside. Nature wasn’t something distant or exotic; it was simply part of everyday life, rooted in our local landscape. And then, one evening, it arrived in our living room in a way that would quietly shape how I saw the natural world forever.
'Life on Earth', David Attenborough’s groundbreaking series, opened my eyes to the world at large. From our sofa it took me to far flung places and had a profound effect on my respect and curiosity of our planet. The gorillas in the misty volcanic forests of Rwanda won Sir David a place in the nation’s hearts and captured my imagination. Sitting calmly among the apes, he allowed them to approach on their own terms, capturing an extraordinary sense of trust between human and gorilla. I still remember those moments.
Fast forward forty-seven years, and I’ve spent my career working in communications. And for the past 25 years at JNCC, where we are driven by our mission of turning science into action for nature, people and the planet. And whenever I think of the natural world I’m taken back to the gifts that Sir David has shared with us. The wonders of the ocean in 'Blue Planet' and the UK’s backyard wildlife in 'Secret Garden'.
Few communicators have shaped how the world understands nature quite like Sir David. For over seven decades, his voice, storytelling, and calm authority have brought the complexities of the natural world into millions of living rooms just like mine. But beyond his extraordinary subject matter, Attenborough’s enduring impact lies in how he communicates. His communication is rooted in curiosity and shared discovery.
For those of us working in communications – whether in the public sector, conservation, science, or beyond – there is much to learn from his approach. His gentle presence and compelling narrative have inspired action for nature. He knows stories connect to the heart and mind.
In our communications landscape, his work demonstrates the enduring power of clarity, humility, and storytelling with purpose. As a communicator, that may be his most important lesson.
Happy Birthday Sir David.
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