Government Communication trends emphasised in Sharjah...

Events witnessed participation of eight UAE ministries and more than 30 local and federal government entities

The Sharjah Media Centre (SMC) held two workshops as part of an ongoing series aimed at enhancing government communication capabilities, in line with initiatives for the Sharjah Government Communication Award.

The first workshop, held in collaboration with Dubai Police, focused on crisis communication. It offered participants a chance to brush up on some of the basic skills required for government communication specialists in dealing with high pressure situations, such as how to interact transparently with media organisations, and prepare the official spokesperson for crisis scenarios. In line with this, the Dubai Police presented a comprehensive case study which highlighted the best practices used during the Address Hotel fire last year.

Centered on strategic communication, the second session saw experts share insights on creating positive and strategic public messaging, identifying key messages and analysing stakeholders. The well rounded workshop also included a practice group wherein attendees increased their level of expertise in developing strategic communication plans.

Tariq Saeed Allay, Director of Sharjah Media Centre, reiterated the important role that training sessions of this nature play in developing the capabilities of government communication departments.

Allay said: Having a well-thought out communication approach which includes a clear strategy for handling different scenarios helps protect as well as ensure the success of government entities and departments since it prepares them to deal with challenges arising from unexpected events.

He added: Governments are keen on preserving the reputation of their related entities while maximising audience satisfaction. Given that their communication departments bear the brunt of the responsibility during crises, they need to be prepared in order to be able to respond quickly to media, choose the right time to communicate with key audiences and effectively cope with less than ideal circumstances.

The sessions targeted communication managers and official spokespersons, in addition to government communication, public relations and corporate communication teams working at many local and federal institutions in the country. Entities which participated in the event included the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, Federal Transport Authority Land and Maritime, Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology, Emirates Post, Government of Dubai Media Office, and the Emirates College of Technology.

Furthermore, the workshops witnessed the participation of representatives of many local entities in the Emirate of Sharjah, including the Executive Office of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Sharjah Advisory Council, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority Shurooq, Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, Sharjah Center for Documentation and Researches, Sharjah Health Authority, Sharjah Book Authority, Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Sharjah International Airport, Sharjah Directorate of Housing, Department of Culture and Information, Social Services Department, Department of Statistics and Community Development, Department of Public Works, Districts and Villages Affairs Department, Institute of Training and Judicial Studies, and Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services.

The Sharjah Government Communication Award is a leading specialised award in the region. It has greatly contributed to enhancing best practice in the government communication sector. The award has also encouraged departments to exchange knowledge and expertise.

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LINK:	http://www.sharjahmedia.ae/en/media-centre/news/17/1/2017/government-c...
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