Government Media Course
Media and Communications Course for Government Officials
3-7 June
Applications are now open for the Media and Communications Course for local government, provincial and local officials and members of the media. Intensive, accredited and certificated by Rhodes University's Sol Plaatje Institute (SPI) for Media Leadership, the one-week course is aimed mostly at journalists and spokespeople, although other public-facing officials would benefit tremendously by attending, will run from 3-7 June at the SPI in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape.
The course is aimed at building and nurturing credible relations between the government and journalists; how to bridge the communication gaps between government communicators and journalists; and how government communicators should effectively handle public service demands. This is an engaging and hands-on course that includes modules on leadership and management, ethics and how to plan, implement and evaluate successful government campaigns. The course also delves into how government communicators can practically harness digital and social media to increase awareness and information services to the public.
It is presented by Themba Sepotokele, a media trainer who has extensive experience both as a journalist and government spokesperson and is a speech writer; Trevor Amos, an academic focused on enhancing government-media relations; and by leading management and leadership experts from Rhodes University's Management Department.
Sepotokele says: "This is a unique course because it brings people from the opposite ends, communicators and journalists, under one roof to learn and share ideas and experiences. The course is pitched at NQF Level 6 and, upon completing the course and assessment tasks, candidates receive a certificate of competence from Rhodes University.
This is different to a certificate of attendance because those awarded such a certificate would have met the course's competency requirements."
The SPI also offers in-house training to government departments, municipalities and media outlets.
"The in-house training is ideal for institutions that would not be able to send their staff to Grahamstown because of time and costs constraints," Sepotokele says. "We, however, urge those who prefer in-house training to at least have fifteen or more candidates to make the course financially viable."
Please contact SPI Course Coordinator and Communications Officer Linda Snam on
046- 603-8949 or e:mail her at az.ca.ur@mans.l for more information on the course, tuition fees, application forms, etc. You could also visit the SPI's website for more details at www.spi.ru.ac.za.
Alternately, you could contact Sepotokele on 082 828 7940 or moc.liamg@elekotopes.abmeht
Date: 03 June 2013 to 07 June 2013Time: 08:30 - 16:30
Venue: Sol Plaatje Institute, Rhodes University, Grahamstown
Cost: R6500 per person