OSCE Centre organizes training on press services of state institutions in Turkmenistan

ASHGABAT, 18 April 2017 – An OSCE-organized training course on enhancing the professional skills of press officers of Turkmenistan’s state institutions opened today in Ashgabat.

The three-day training course brought together some 25 officials from Turkmenistan’s key ministries and institutions as well as journalists representing national print and broadcast media.

International media and communication experts from Poland and Ukraine will share best practices in establishing and running press services, interacting with the media and improving channels of communication between state institutions and public through press services.

“Press services play an essential role in ensuring access to government-held information and promoting effective interaction between state institutions and the media,” said Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. “Over the past few years the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat developed successful co-operation with Turkmenistan’s government in the area of enhancing the professional know-how of journalists and communication specialists. This training course has an added value, as it brings together both communication specialists and representatives of the media, which will contribute to the enhanced understanding and co-operation between them.”

The agenda of the training course includes the internal structure of press services, recruitment of staff for press offices and planning work with target audience and stakeholders. Special attention will be paid to practical aspects of press officers’ work, such as organizing public relations events, conducting awareness-raising and communication campaigns, drafting information materials and developing communication strategies.

During the practical exercises, the attendees will share views on how to establish efficient press services and develop key competencies.