• OBJECTIVES
• COURSE CONCEPT
• DOWNLOAD GUIDEBOOK

• To understand the basic principles of policy communication;
• To develop skills for communicating policy research results with the media, policymakers, and the public; and
• To gain practical skills for writing different forms of communication for conveying policy research results.

Economic globalization and other changes that developing countries are undergoing require adequate information sharing among policymakers, policy researchers, and potential beneficiaries of the policy change. Choices towards policy changes require public support, which in turn depends on quality of information passed on to them, and popular journalism and the news media have become central elements in developing countries in shaping the public opinions on policy changes. Therefore, properly trained and well-guided professionals who contribute to the media could play a vital catalytic role in the policy process. Unfortunately, the sensational and unreliable nature of the news and media has remained a major challenge for journalists in addressing serious policy issues, and there is limited capacity among researchers and analysts to produce popular articles for the general public. In the absence of well-trained writers and reporters who could explain the process of policy change with an understanding of the impact of critical policy issues affecting public welfare, grassroots participation in the process of economic change will remain limited. This is true also to issues that face food, agriculture, and natural resource sectors.

This course is designed to provide policy researchers, analysts, and university professors in South Asia with the skills and understanding they need to perform better as explainers of policy research information that will have an impact on the food, agriculture, and natural resource sectors. It is also designed to provide policy researchers and analysts with skills for preparing policy communication that is effective and brief. This workshop will offer a blend of instruction and hands-on exercises so that policy communicators in government, research, and academic institutions will emerge with practical approaches for presenting food, agriculture, and natural resource policy problems and solutions in ways that are both interesting and accessible to a broad audience.

Main module
(PDF 332K)
Appendix A: Main Messages
(PDF 12K)
Appendix B: Seminar Evaluation Form
(PDF 13K)
Appendix C: Media Advisory
(PDF 25K)
Appendix D: Press Release
(PDF 27K)
Appendix E: Op-Ed
(PDF 17K)
Appendix F: Policy Memoranda
(PDF 20K)
Appendix G: Policy Brief
(PDF 57K)