Part of my job is to sometimes conduct classes and lectures on specific subjects ~ ‘media skills’, ‘media & government relations’ and ‘handling the media in crisis situation’. I didn't lecture on mass communication theories. My lectures are mostly on sharing whatever little experience I have in handling the media. Being a media practitioner myself for the past 30 yeras, I talk mostly on practical aspects of things, mostly on the importance of being media-friendly especially for the diplomatic corp on overseas postings.
My most recent lecture involved some 40 diplomats-to-be and their wives, those chosen to join Malaysia's diplomatic missions overseas in various capacities. These pix were from a lecture I gave at Malaysia's Institute for Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) in Kuala Lumpur.
I talk without any prepared text, only aided with some slides, pix and pointers as I prefer to encourage questions from the floor. Usually the two to three-hour sessions are very lively. From questions they posed, I can sense the underlying fear most of the participants have in dealing with journalists, whatmore those in foreign countries. And, let alone those who have never had any experience in dealing with the press back home.
I'm very glad that from feedback received after the lectures, I've managed to allay their fears and gave them some confidence.
I also encourage them to open a PB account each to post their pix and share them with their families back home. PB would assist and be useful to them in many ways once they're back home after their tour of duty. One, for sure, is they can easily recall where they've been to and friends they have made while there.
In one of the classes at the IDFR
Attentive audience. Me oh my I'm very glad for their attention. It tells me my talk is making sense and they're not lost…
I prefer the class to be interactive and try to get everyone engaged in Q&A
One or two are just a little more worried than the rest…
These are...proffesional! :)