OSCE organizes training on law-enforcement and media relations in Kazakhstan

ASTANA, 14 November 2016 - An OSCE-supported four-day training seminar, which aims at improving the interaction between law-enforcement agencies and the media, began today in Astana.

Co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the Law-Enforcement Academy under the Prosecutor General’s Office, some 25 prosecutors from across the country as well as officials from the Prosecutor General’s Office, the National Bureau on Countering Corruption, and the Economic Investigations Service of the Finance Ministry will discuss how to enhance communication between the law-enforcement agencies and media. They will also examine the outreach practices of the law-enforcement press service, and ways to promote open channels of communication based on particular cases from a journalist’s perspective.

The participants will also learn on how to professionally report on sensitive and timely issues, such as terrorist attacks, prepare for public interviews and press conferences as well as enhance their skills in public speaking and in handling crisis situations. The use of new media tools and social networks will also be covered and participants will conduct a practical exercise on drafting press releases, organizing press briefings and delivering a televised interview.

“Law enforcement professionals often have to work with the media and society, and here we are faced with various barriers to work effectively with them,” said Nurlan Daniev, Director of the Institute of Postgraduate Education and Training at the Law-Enforcement Academy under the Prosecutor General’s Office. “Errors in this regard may adversely affect the authority of the state body and, as a consequence, reduce the level of public confidence."

Ambassador György Szabó, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, said: "The effectiveness of any government authority in many respects depends on the positive perception of the entity by the public. Information provided to the public must be timely, relevant and objective. Thus, the clarity and openness of the authorities on the one hand and efficiency in the light of the situation on the other hand are key factors in building and maintaining public trust."

The event is part of the OSCE Programme Office’s long-standing efforts to enhance co-operation between the law-enforcement agencies and media.