SEMINARS Passia Seminar 1999 Media and Communication Skills

 

PREFACE

ivil society organizations are the link between the citizenry and the public sector. In order to create a stable and democratic system in Palestinian society, it is necessary to foster a skilled, knowledgeable and active cadre of civil society organizations to link the people and the institu­tions that gov­ern them. To perform their manifold roles most effectively and con­struc­tively, civil society organizations need to develop their institutional capaci­ties. With its Civil Society Empowerment through Training and Skills De­velopment program implemented over the last two years, PASSIA has de­veloped a set of training programs designed to pro­vide practical hands-on training and meet these needs.[1]

 

The human resource is a fundamental pillar of any stable society and de­veloping human ca­pacity is seen not only as a tool that contributes to meeting the current and fu­ture needs of the Palestinian civil society, but also as one that enables its full participation at all levels.

 

Each training program incorporates theoretical approaches and practical training in fields relevant to civil society in terms of procedures, skills and development. Each seminar includes four major, interrelated activities:

 

 

1.       Research and Preparation. One month before the training program begins, par­ticipants are provided with preparatory reading material gathered by the PASSIA Project Team in coordination with the trainers and lecturers. The participants are also required to write a short paper on an issue related to Palestinian civil society.

 

2.       Intensive Training Seminar. Trainees attend a six-day lecture pro­gram con­ducted by local and international experts. The lectures range from theoretical concepts to functional skills, exercises and case studies, whereby the participants are continuously encouraged to apply what they have learned to the institutions with which they are involved.

 

3.       Follow-up Program. The intensive seminar is followed by four work­shops, spread over a two-month period and concentrat­ing on skill en­hancement. The major goal is to link and apply the skills learned to actual issues of con­cern in the participants’ working environment. Par­ticipants prepare for the workshops by completing practice-oriented writing assignments.

 

4.       Conclusion. At the close of the training program, each participant is required to submit a final essay. The goal is to incorporate what they have learned and their practical experience into a coherent project.

 

 

Civil Society Empowerment: Media and Communications Skills[2]

 

The PASSIA training program on Media and Communication Skills was implemented during the period November 1998-May 1999. It included lec­tures on the general concept of civil society and its role and relevance with regard to the policy process. The focus of the training program was on a general introduction into the themes and fields of media and communica­tion. Other parts dealt with issues related to communi­cation strategies, effective presentations, developing communication skills, planning media events, and public relations. Also included were case studies and practical media-communication experiences from Palestine.

 

 

This Report

 

The publication presented here contains the proceedings and instructions of the training program and can be used as a handbook that is designed to introduce a wider audience to the components and techniques of media relations and communication strategies. PASSIA hopes that this publica­tion will make a valuable contribution to the enhancement of the Palestin­ian civil society community and benefit a large number of practitio­ners and professionals who seek to increase their knowledge and skills.

 

 

 

 

The PASSIA Project Team

April 199

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