HSF supports the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Workshop on “Parliamentary Press Relations”

How the press departments within the German Parliaments are working, explained by Mr. Gojic State Parliament of Bavaria and Dr. Sandra Michel from the Bundesrat

HSF

HSF supports the communication and public relations of the Hluttaws through a project funded by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On 10th and 11th of July 2017 a workshop on the roles and the core functions of parliamentary press relations was implemented together with technical support from the German Bundesrat (“Upper House”) and the Bavarian Landtag (“State Parliament of Bavaria”). The workshop was the latest workshop to carry out the request made by the Hluttaw to assist the Myanmar Parliament in the field of public relations and federalism. The purpose of the workshop and the project itself was to help building public interest in the parliament and to strengthen transparency, as well as the latter’s legitimacy, between the public and the parliament and the press. This should be reached by providing the public likewise the media with better access to the parliament compounds and its functions. To approach the objective of a more people-orientated Hluttaw, the capacities of members of staff as well as of various departments must be strengthened. As such the two days lasting workshop consisted of key discussions that focused on the organizational structures and mapping of departments and the way they communicate to the press, to the media and to the public. Ultimately clear competences e.g. who takes responsibility for the communication branches and who prepares press releases were addressed. 

Participants were told to prepare a mock press release on the topic of how to ban plastic bags in Myanmar. Here they discuss ideas and draft a press release on the poster.

HSF

The speakers during the workshop included Mr. Gojic of the State Parliament of Bavaria and Dr. Sandra Michel from the Upper House. They explained the general focus of the workshop and also gave a short introduction of the political system in Germany. Pointed out was the necessity of good relations between the media and the parliament. On the last day of the workshop Mr. Falise from Foundation Hirondelle gave insight into a journalist’s life and work by bringing to the fore the basic principles and techniques he is committed to. The workshop concluded with a general introduction as how to write press material for web and social media which becomes increasingly important in the digital era.