23. 6. 2019 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR
Click here to read more about the project in Slovenian language. 
Bohinj and Bled were the settings of the European Digital Diplomacy training this week, bringing together government communicators from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. The event was prepared as a joint effort between the U.S. Department of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia within the framework of the Official Development Cooperation, the U.S. Embassy in Slovenia and Centre for European Perspective. Activities of the three-day training enforced the participants to join forces, ideas, and best practices to bridge challenges in the field and build a strong network for the future of the project.
On Wednesday morning, the participants were addressed by CEP Executive Director Katja Geršak, Public Affairs Officer Jean B. Leedy from the U.S. Embassy in Slovenia and Miriam Možgan, Head of Public Relations Office within the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The training was then set off by Matt Jacobs from the U.S. Department of State and Centre for European Perspective’s very own Project Coordinator Ingrid Omahna, who have been supporting and coordinating the project from the very beginning.
The first day of the training was devoted to a series of discussions, workshops, and lectures that covered the communication sphere of governmental institutions and the ever-growing threat of misinformation/disinformation. The digital revolution has yielded a unique opportunity for individuals and communities alike to stay informed and engage within their audiences. At the same time, digital innovation is proving the importance of communication activities governments and other state institutions have to undertake in order to build on the engagement of their communities. Digital platforms, social media and other methods of digital data transmission, therefore open the door to transparent and more effective politics with engaging policies that can more closely listen to the needs of communities affected by them.
The sharing of ideas and best practices among peers working at the same capacities have always been in the heart of the overall EDDE project, so to better address the challenges that occur in their profession. Being no different for the training in Bohinj, the afternoon of the first day continued with a presentation of successful digital campaigns. Jane Lazevski working as a Special Adviser to the Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia presented a successful digital campaign from North Macedonia meanwhile Nataša Adlešič Barba working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia presented the most recent Slovenian successful digital campaigns within the scope of Official Development Cooperation. The participants were also engaged in a lecture on how to address disinformation so to preserve information integrity. The debate based on the participant’s experiences and challenges continued within a Night Owl Session on identification and responses to misinformation.
The second day of the training moved the participants to the ambient of Lake Bled, where the event was hosted by the IEDC Bled School of Management. Participants were divided into two smaller groups who sequentially cooperated in interactive lectures. The first pair of workshops covered Photography training (led by the experienced journalist Uroš Hočevar) and Infographic and Design Training (led by Ingrid Omahna). Both of the workshops covered practical aspects and skills, which can help public officers build on better and more effective visual material for their campaigns and digital efforts. The afternoon session engaged participants in a discussion on analytics (prepared by Paolo Ganino working at the European External Action Service) and Matt Jacobs on the topic of social listening. Both the presentations covered many useful aspects on how to better engage with their audiences and secure digital campaigns that more effectively resonate within communities. The evening program continued in Bohinj, where the participants once more engaged in a Night Owl Session, this time on the topic of Policy as Lifestyle.
All of the lectures, infographic and design training, debates, photography training, exchange of experiences and best practices were brought to a practical test on Friday, when the participants were faced with a digital challenge. A hands-on simulation based on a descriptive storyline challenged the groups of participants to prepare a specific digital campaign for their imaginary country Frakya. All of the groups were innovative and successful in their efforts to build visually appealing campaigns and content with creative solutions for the task in question. The evening continued with closing remarks and a certificate ceremony.
18. 6. 2019 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR
ANNOUNCEMENT: European Digital Diplomacy Exchange Training
The Centre for European Perspective, together with the U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia is organizing a three-day training designed to enhance the digital press and public diplomacy capacities of government communicators.
Governments have been uniquely challenged by the proliferation of digital communication channels. On one hand, they have never had as much access to domestic and foreign publics – access that they can use to understand and inform their audiences. On the other, the proliferation and democratization of the digital media space has increased their narrative competition, and opened them up to a number of consequential challenges, including proactively destructive counter-narratives and disinformation. Governments that are active on social networks therefore require new knowledge and experience, different abilities and skills that are necessary to effectively operate within the information space.
For this purpose, a fourth iteration of the training, taking place between 19th and 21st June 2019 in Bohinj, Slovenia, will recruit government communicators from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Georgia, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine. The training will cover a range of topics from public relations and public diplomacy theory to practical application of digital tools.
The project is a result of a joint cooperation between the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia in the scope of the International Development Cooperation and the Centre for European Perspective.
Click here to read more about the project in Slovenian language.
18. 4. 2019 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR
The first meeting of the European Digital Diplomacy Exchange (EDDE) project Steering Board took place in Brussels from 15 – 17 April 2019 in order to set the operational ground for the Steering Board, as well as to build the linkages and plans necessary to increase EU and NATO involvement.
Centre for European Perspective (CEP), together with U.S. Department of State continues to encourage intergovernmental network of government communicators that was formed within the project “Enhancing Digital Diplomacy Activities in Western Balkan and Eastern European Countries.” In order to ensure that digital development takes root locally in between program activities we established a Steering Board, consisting of representatives of the countries that are involved in the project, coming from the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Baltc States.
The meeting gathered fourteen out of fifteen representatives in the Steering Board, chaired by Matt Jacobs from the U.S. Department of State and Ingrid Omahna from CEP. Besides numerous discussions about how to shape a system that can ultimately continue to develop and refine the work moving forward in a meaningful manner, this meeting was also the opportunity to meet with other partners. Rebecca Obstler, Principal Editor of NATO Communications Services at Public Diplomacy Division presented a NATO approach towards promoting the coherence among Alliance communications in a way that can be mutually amplifying. Steering Board members also met with EEAS StratCom representatives. Jurgis Vilčinskas, Deputy Head of StratCom Division at EEAS outlined the structure of the EEAS, their set of objectives and their way towards detecting, predicting and exposing disinformation and their narratives. Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab Director, Graham Brookie provided an overview of how the Atlantic Council identifies, exposes, and explains disinformation where and when it occurs using open source research.
At the end, the meeting ideas will manifest in a guiding document enshrined with guiding principles.
15. 4. 2019 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR
The European Digital Diplomacy Exchange project is hosting a three-day Steering Board Meeting in Brussels unfolding from Monday the 15 of April through Wednesday the 17 of April. The event represents a first of many activities, that will bring together representatives (Steering Board members) from countries already active in the EDDE project through past participation. The topics of discussion in this meeting will include an overlook of the past efforts and successes the project has had, while at the same time develop an effective vision on how to contribute to a future of the EDDE project that includes the common challenges digital communicators are addressing in their everyday work.
The program of the first meeting day was devoted to the establishment of firm common tasks and challenges tackled by the Steering Board members. The open discussion offered a safe space for everyone to contribute their best practices, work experience, digital challenges and other ideas, that will help to build the EDDE project in the future. The discussions will continue in the next two days, so to guarantee that the future work of the project is aligned and leaded by the needs of digital communicators from all countries and regions. The project therefore has additional value by offering guidance and assistance for common digital challenges digital diplomats face in their everyday profession. The participants will also be included in two guest presentations prepared by NATO and the European External Action Service, who are active in the field of digital diplomacy, strategic digital messaging campaigns and other digital tools that offer a great opportunity for future synergies with the EDDE project.
20. 3. 2019 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR
The European Digital Diplomacy Exchange Western Balkans Road Show has moved to its third and final destination, wonderful Tirana, Albania. The activities of the two-day training will take place at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs between Wednesday March 20th until the 21st of March. We look forward to the opportunity of engaging with communicators, PR officers and other public servants through discussions on the topic of digital diplomacy.
The event was officially opened by project manager Ms Ingrid Omahna, who has been at the core of the EDDE project from the very beginning. Participants of the event were also addressed by Ms Lucija Straley, who is currently working as an Assistant Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tirana. Ms Straley underlined the digital environment that facilitates the debate of this generation. It is up to governments to engage and communicate with their citizens, with digital innovation as only one of the fast evolving tools that can represent a bridge for the fulfilment of the gap between institutions and the people they represent.
The environment in which communication takes place today is devised as a mosaic of multiple media outlets, among them traditional and digital, that have complemented the public discussion into a more democratic network than ever. The participants in today’s training, who are facing the challenges of their institutions representation, had expressed the challenges such an environment entails, and how they are working on fostering the highest level of engagement with their audience, the citizens they represent.
Mr Matt Jacobs, who gained his expertise through his work within the U.S. Department of State, also sees the challenges and opportunities todays public debate yields. Today’s environment should be another opportunity to engage and empower communities through dialogues, not monologues as in the past with traditional media and communication hierarchies. The citizen of today needs to be informed, included in the debate and facilitated towards engagement, to bolster a democratic and transparent discussion, that will in the end effect in more fruitful policies and embrace a more prosperous future for the whole community. State institutions can and should use digital innovation, to make good on their promise towards their citizens as public officers have been entrusted the privilege of representing their constituents, and ensure the interest and wellbeing of the lather. Communicating through social media and other platforms therefore presents an opportunity, to step up to the plate and engage their communities. It´s an opportunity state institutions cannot miss if they wish to not only provide leadership, but strive for a progressive environment in the interest of their communities.
Technological advances have contributed to new opportunities, but also threats. The fully democratized communication flows have also contributed to the rise of deception, disinformation and societal threats, that need to be addressed. Disinformation, as a form of deliberate transmission of false information and data is present in our everyday lifestyle, as U.S. Department of States analytic Darjan Vujica expressed. It is therefore essential that governments who are already aware of this threats, reach out to their audiences and provide them with information and effort, to secure a trustworthy communication flow among everyone.
The training will continue with many more discussions tomorrow, and build on the challenges all public services and their respectful institutions face, to find solutions that will pave the road to an engaging, transparent and democratic future.
Activities in Tirana follow a series of multiple events that focus on European Digital Diplomacy Exchange. All of the trainings serve as a fruitful cooperation between The Centre for European Perspectives, the U.S. Department of state and U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana. It is the common goal of all the organising parties, to further expand the network and strengthen it, so that it may be best equipped for the digital challenges future has in store.
18. 3. 2019 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR
After a successful event in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Digital Diplomacy Exchange project team continues with an extensive and engaging program in Podgorica, Montenegro. The training will take place from March 18th through March 19th and will include advanced level digital diplomats, beginners in the topic and all kinds of digital diplomacy enthusiast, that will make the discussion and sharing of best practices limitless.
On Monday the participants of the event were addressed by Mr Jeff Adler representing the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica at the capacity of Public Affairs Officer. The discussion engaged the participants on the topic of disinformation, with lectures by Mr Matt Jacobs and Mr Darjan Vujica, who both currently actively participate in the U.S. Department of state. Both trainers presented the topic of disinformation in a specific way, either from a communication perspective or with more focus on analytics. This enabled the participants to comprehend more closely and clearly, on how disinformation works and disseminated the environment, which enables disinformation to thrive and survive. The participants were engaged in the discussion and not only offered their own opinion and knowledge on the topic, but also valuable experience that addresses the threat of disinformation.
Matt Jacobs tackled two other important topics, namely the way to approach communication in a more structured manor, and how to improve listening to the needs of audiences. We often tend to think of a milestone of communication with the invention of gadgets like the printing press that drastically changed the world we live in. But communication dates much more into the past, and the concept used then are still applicable and useful today, as Mr Jacobs explained with concrete examples, methods and concepts. The discussion also touched upon how to approach communication properly, to reach the engagement and feedback of the audiences in the greatest extent possible, as it is an extensive way to secure transparency and direct democracy.
The program continued with workshops on Tuesday, ranging from morning to the late afternoon, approaching the topic of digital diplomacy in an even more practical and engaging way. Participants were engaged in the practical view of digital campaigns, from their initial planning to purely practical implementation. The discussions were held by Mr Matt Jacobs and Ms Carey Hogg, both experts coming from the U.S. Department of State, who challenged the participants to make their very own digital campaign on the spot. The two groups tackled the topic of public health policies, and devoted attention to the rise of awareness in the field of vital organ donorship. Digital diplomats that were present gave all their expertise, talents and ideas to the debate and produced content with great potential, that would not only raise awareness of a certain policy, but include citizens in their creation, contributing to better conditions in a community for every individual. Transparency, active participation and engagement are therefore only the beginning of multiple possibilities digital diplomacy can embrace.
