The International Media Diplomacy Program, the latest in the Government of Dubai Media Office’s (GDMO) series of leadership development opportunities created for members of the Dubai Media Diplomacy and Communication Network, has kicked off in Washington.

Developed in partnership with the Protocol School of Washington, and offered exclusively to members of the Network, the Program is being held from 10 to 16 November 2017 in Washington DC. The course aims to help communication leaders in the UAE’s public and private sectors lead in today’s globalised environment, and respond innovatively to the challenges of communicating in a changing media landscape.

“The UAE has emerged as one of the leading countries of the world in just over four decades. It has also become a global model for tolerance, peaceful coexistence, gender equality, cultural diversity, innovation, and a future global nation. Communication leaders in the UAE need to find creative new ways of telling this story powerfully to audiences across the world. The International Media Diplomacy Program teaches participants strategies to become more effective as communication leaders who can represent the UAE internationally. At the same time, it helps them draw from global best practices to look at communication from a completely new perspective and create new strategies and approaches,” said Mona Al Marri, Director General, GDMO.

The Program is delivered by thought leaders and skilled educators in the field of media diplomacy and international relations. The program aims to prepare the participants to think proactively on how to engage, communicate, react, and adapt to the strategic media challenges of today’s world. Participants will gain a stronger understanding of public diplomacy, international relations, cross-cultural communication, international protocol, leadership, executive presence and messaging skills.

The first session of the program focuses on public diplomacy, international relations and cross-cultural communication. It closely examines the need for public diplomacy at a time when the changes resulting from the spread of democracy and education, technological revolutions, growth of NGOs and emergence of civil society have raised the importance of understanding public opinion.

While the second session covers the vital subjects of leadership, protocol and executive presence, the third session will feature best practices in media relations and skills for communicating effectively with local and international media.