Barbara Nissen, leader of the Communications Resourcing Team at United Methodist Communications,
leading a session on crisis communication. Good public relations skills--especially in times of crisis--
is essential for all church communicators.
| Class From June 14 to June 30, 2006, United Methodist Communicators from across Africa met for an intensive training event coordinated by United Methodist Communications (UMCOM) and hosted by Africa University in Zimbabwe. This event is part of the Central Conference Communications Initiative. When I say intensive, I'm talking class from 8am-8:30pm Monday-Saturday and long Sunday afternoon meetings. Topics included everything from Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, etc.) to photography to video editing to various forms of journalism (radio, newspaper, covering social issues such as AIDs, etc.). Basically, most of my time in Zimbabwe this year was spent in an Africa University computer lab! Now that 28 delegates have been trained, the goal is to provide each conference a communications center (computer, video camera, essential software, etc.) so that these skills can be put to use. Not all conferences have found funding for these centers yet. Is God putting this need on your heart? |
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Barbara Nissen, leader of the Communications
Resourcing Team at United Methodist Communications,
leading a session on crisis communication. Good public relations
skills--especially in times of crisis--
is essential for all church communicators.
Mike Svarda (bottom rt) giving some advanced tips to part of the
French and Portuguese speaking computer class.
Celine Butuene, journalist from Kinshasa, gives pointers to Jackie
Kashal (DR-Congo)
in the French speaking delegates' Writing for Radio class.
Chantal Shako from DR-Congo trying out her conference's new digital
camera.
Professional photographers Mike Dubose of UMCOM and Fidelis Zvomuya
(Zimbabwe) taught the photo. class,
and I finally learned how to use those strange buttons on my digital
camera. Thanks guys!
Isaac Broune gives his fellow Cote d'Ivoire delegate, Bobietche Bruno
some pointers.
Lynette Regede (Zimbabwe) and Sarah Mawerere (Uganda)
Naninye Teddy (Uganda) and Daniel Mhone (Malawi)
Rev. Louis Loma (DR-Congo) films a short documentary for video editing
class
while Marie Manisha (Burundi) and Bobietche Bruno (Cote d'Ivoire)
assist.
It took a lot of planning to coordinate such an ambitious training
event.
Rev.Tafadwza Mudambanuki (UMCOM), Andra Stevens (Africa U.) and Barbara
Nissen (UMCOM)
review logistics before the classes start.
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