OSCE organizes training seminar for law enforcement on media relations in Kazakhstan

An OSCE-supported three-day training seminar for law enforcement press officers on the fundamentals of public relations and effective communication strategies between law enforcement and media concluded on 18 April 2018 in Karaganda, Kazakhstan.

Some 30 press officers of the Internal Affairs Departments from across Kazakhstan took part in the seminar, with discussions focusing on best practices used by different law enforcement press services, verbal and non-verbal communication, the management of stressful and conflict situations, photo composition, use of multimedia, organization and strategy of communication campaigns, giving interviews and organizing press conferences and briefings.

The participants learned techniques to better interact with journalists and the general public as well as enhanced their writing, negotiation and public speaking skills.  A special session focused on the use of new media and social networks, including fact-checking, drafting social media content and addressing negative comments and cases of trolling.

The event, co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, the Karaganda Police Academy and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, was a part of the Programme Office’s long-standing efforts to enhance co-operation between the law enforcement agencies and media.