Over 80 Young Media Profeionals and Students Attend Workshops Led by International and Regional Media Experts at Government Communication Forum 0

Workshop on Day-1 Examines Public Speaking Skills & Social Media Fundamentals

Workshop on Day-2 Discusses Relationship between Governments and Media & Dynamics of Press Conference Management

Government Communication Forum 2013 hosted four workshops over the two-day event seeking to equip nearly 380 participants including young professionals and communications students with skills in public speaking, social media, government media relations and press conference management.

The first workshop titled Public Speaking: how to get your message across' was headlined by media experts from Abu Dhabi twofour54 tadreeb - David Hardaker, Head of Media Development, and Fahed Hussein, Media Executive Consultant. The segment examined all aspects of effective public presentation, including planning and preparation, role of speechwriters, effective speech structuring, and tailoring delivery for target audiences.

Highlighting the need for senior officials and spokespersons to present clear and powerful speeches, David Hardaker said: Effective public speaking is key to successful leadership, especially in the government sector where officials need to communicate their messages and engage with the public. Whether it's for informative, persuasive, or entertainment purpose, public speaking is a form of communication, where the presenter has only one chance to deliver the message. Therefore, it's important to keep it simple and easy for the listeners to understand.

He added: Speaking in public is not easy; in fact, only few people feel comfortable to do so. Majority of speakers experience anxiety and nervousness when presenting in front of the audience. Fear of public speaking comes from not knowing the topic and lack of preparation, which is a crucial element for delivering a powerful speech.

On his part, Fahed Hussein shared techniques for crafting impactful speeches in English and Arabic. He said: When delivering a speech, the presenter must break down the barrier between him and his audience. This is a principle of one-to-one communication that allows engaging with the audience and sustains public attention. Simplicity of the message and speech intelligibility are important for delivering a lucid and effective speech.

In the second workshop on day-one titled Introduction to Social Media for Communications', participants examined the role of social media in government communications. Showcasing best international practices with local case studies, social media expert Khaled Akbik covered aspects such as introduction to social media, defining objectives and scope of campaigns, reputation management, monitoring and measurement, and optimization. The workshop offered insight into how best to leverage social media for shaping public opinion on government initiatives, while enhancing reputation and credibility.

Khaled Akbik said: Social media is all about listening. In a nutshell, it provides a platform for two-way communication between organizations and the people. Governments are now realising the importance of utilising social media as a tool for engaging with the public and responding in an effective way to address social needs.

Today, three out of four global internet users are social media users; 95 per cent of companies use LinkedIn as a tool to recruit employees. Social networks have a great impact on the way modern society functions. People's use of social media is growing and becoming more and more widespread and influential.

The second day of Government Communication Forum opened with a workshop on Relationship between governmental institutions and the media'. The segment was led by senior executives from twofour54 tadreeb Fahed Hussein, and May Alem Shehab. Analysing the complementary relationship between government institutions and the media, the trainers emphasised on the need for government bodies and the media to mutually understand the nature of each other's work for establishing a successful partnership that supports public interest and promotes national identity.

May Alem Shehab said: We always think that the media and government institutions are two separate entities. Realistically, the two share a symbiotic association. The media has a responsibility to replicate the government messages clearly and accurately. The communication mechanism is as follows: government institutions send certain messages to the public through media, and then communicate their opinions and requirements through various media channels.

The trainers also offered pointers to professionals on the ways to package the news, select media houses for disseminating particular news pieces and approach media persons for carrying their messages. Addressing emerging journalists, the experts pointed out the need for media to take on the responsibility of communicating the correct message of the government and accurately highlight changes in regulation for the benefit of the wider community.

The final workshop titled Holding a press conference' was also led by media training consultant May Alem Shehab. The one-hour segment covered best-practice techniques for preparing and managing successful press conferences, from concept to execution. In addition to highlighting the importance of strategic planning and resource preparation, the workshop examined the art of managing the press pack and fielding media questions trough realistic role-plays and simulations.

May Alem Shehab pointed out that the success of the conference depends on the proactivity of the organiser in inviting the right media as well as the spontaneity and clarity of the spokesperson in responding to the media. She also offered tips on logistics arrangements such as seating for creating a conducive environment for optimum coverage of the event.

David Hardaker holds a 25-year experience working with print and

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