By Dasha Ilic
Around 170 participants from 55 countries participated in the first hybrid-style workshop within the Global Exchange on Religion and Society (GERIS) project implemented by PARTICIP and Media Diversity Institute (MDI), and supported by the European Commission. In both physical and online space, the members of the GERIS network discussed different ways of working towards social cohesion, peace, reconciliation and inter-faith dialogue by cooperating and working with the media.
Telling a story is essential part of engagement with media. We are preparing our civil society to become better storytellers. With @dasha_i working on skills development @GerisNet members. How to get a better media coverage? pic.twitter.com/KgOFMFl2X9
— Global Exchange on Religion in Society (GERIS) (@GerisNet) September 27, 2021
The first workshop within the GERIS project was held in Brussels on 27-28 September, and it was followed by three days of online training sessions. The trainers, Dasha Ilic and Yvonne Rarieya, introduced the main principles of media relations and communication between the civil society organisations and the media outlets. The main task of the media relations workshop was to make individuals and organisations working on inter-faith dialogue, inclusion, peace, and social cohesion more visible in the mainstream media, therefore more visible for the general public.
Looking forward to first day of training for Geris Network members! Hybrid format. Media relations for civil society. Hybrid format. In person and online. 150 participants. 15 meeting in person first time! We are proud to made it happen.
— Global Exchange on Religion in Society (GERIS) (@GerisNet) September 27, 2021
During the exercises on how to pitch a story to the media, the trainer gave advice to emphasise the newsworthy, unusual, unique and important elements of the event such as a meeting between a rabbi, a priest and an imam. But one the participants, a priest working relentlessly towards the community co-existence and inclusion of minorities, objected: “I don’t understand what is so unusual about that type of cooperation or a meeting. I am seeing our local imam almost every week”, she said.
This exchange proves that more joint work and cooperation is needed between the media and civil society. Collaboration between the media and the civil society is crucial for accurate and reliable information. For this reason, participants were trained in media relations techniques for civil society through two workshops on Media Relations and Campaigns, and Writing Press Releases and Interviewing Techniques. In addition, they were introduced to journalism ethics, putting stories into local contexts, provide a human angle in stories, and how to be good and reliable sources of information among other things.
As one participant said:
“The Media workshop has been an eye opener and very imperative to work as Global Civil Society Actors. The media needs us as we need them. thanks to GERIS and EU Commission for putting this together”
Absolutely agree with you @Lucianobizin The Media workshop has been an eye opener and very imperative to work as Global Civil Society Actors. The media needs us as we need them thanks to @GerisNet @EU_Commission for putting this together. #GlobalGoals #leadership #inclusion
— Racheal Inegbedion (@Richrach4u) September 30, 2021
GERIS is a two-year project of networking, societal capacity building and social media engagement. The goal of the project is to contribute to social inclusion and societal resilience by setting up a global community-based exchange initiative.
