Institutional KS Project Offers a Two Week Online Event on Social Media for CGIAR Communication Professionals
On-line Social Media Workshop for CGIAR Communications Professionals March 2-13, 2009
Today, Communications within the CG must go beyond scientific journal articles, press releases, or static web sites to engage the users of our research in new ways. Social media is an alternative to traditional mass-media that may allow the CGIAR to target its audience in different and more effective manners.
In addition to the exiting forms of communication and marketing of our research processes and results, social media has a huge potential for the CGIAR to increase its visibility, participate in conversations and debates around our research areas, and strengthen relationships with peers, partners and actors in our field of work.
This two-week online workshop offered by the Institutional Knowledge Sharing project will allow CGIAR communications professionals to go deeper and explore how social media can help to innovate in the communications area.
The workshop is a follow-up activity to the KS Workshop that has already involved many center and partner staff. Nancy White will facilitate our collective exploration with support from Simone Staiger-Rivas (CIAT, ICT-KM Program) and Petr Kosina (CIMMYT).
6 Responses to “Institutional KS Project Offers a Two Week Online Event on Social Media for CGIAR Communication Professionals”
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I sure wish that I’m still with the CG as I’d love to be part of what’s sure to be an exciting discussion and experience-sharing session!
I joined the CG Story Development Workshop in Nairobi (2007) and enjoyed exchanging ideas and experiences with communications colleagues from other Centers.
An active blogger since 2005, I witnessed the power of publicity, knowledge sharing and networking (esp with strangers I’ve never met!) social media can offer.
As the saying goes, “the sky’s the limit” when it comes to the potential for social media like blogs, YouTube and Facebook to promote research results to anyone and everyone.
Have fun and a wave from China to anyone who remembers me
Christine Jalleh
former Corporate Communications Manager
The WorldFish Center
Sir,
The scenario of communication in developing country is totally different. Still, majority of the Technology Transfer process professionals are following and using the traditional media which lacks time to reach the designated information. In this context, social media communication on-line workshop will provide new dimension research ideas or thrust areas, means of communication process, issues in technology dissemination etc.
Let me wish this workshop will bring out useful out come to the filed extension officials and farmers.
I am also interested share the on-going project on e-Extension in Tamil Nadu, India and on-line Dynamic Market Information about the Perishable Commodities.
Regards
anandaraja
Dear Anandaraja,
Thank you for your interesting comment. There have been many ICT4D experiences in India. What is you impression of their uptake? Your post seems to say that there is still a lot to do. What are the bottle necks? I would love to hear more
So how are you limiting/defining communication specialists? Only the CG people that are officially part of the CCC departments? Or will it embrace other random knowledge sharers? You can see where I am heading…
Regardless, best luck with the workshop!
Sounds like a wonderful opportunity for CG KS / communications staff to broaden their understanding of communications. Some years ago I worked as a publications and public awareness officer in a CG center (the “late” ISNAR in The Hague). This was during the infancy of public access to Internet services. From time to time, comm. staff from various CG centers had the chance to meet face to face — to share ideas, problems and solutions, and to and get to know each other.
It seems to me a critical question these days for CG communicators might be, Which media exactly do key audiences rely on to keep abreast of scientific and policy news in the various areas of natural resource management? The number of Internet-base options for disseminating news, for sharing information and knowledge, have multiplied dramatically in just the past two or three years. Even if you think you have all your bases covered, the WWW and its blogosphere have become a very, very big place. You set up a blog, or a discussion group, or the greatest full-blow website since the invention of sliced bread, only to find out that most visitors are either friends or else surfers who’ve stumbled on your cherished collection of information by accident. The point here is that while social and other Web media give you access to a potentially humongous international audience, the number of “important messages” competing for attention in those venues is equally large. The messages to be transmitted should be true and valuable; and their expression should be clear, concise and compelling. Otherwise, you’re spam!
Best wishes to all for a great learning experience.
Gerry Toomey, freelance writer & communications consultant
Hi Gerry,
Thanks for your great comment. You say “The messages to be transmitted should be true and valuable; and their expression should be clear, concise and compelling. Otherwise, you’re spam!”
Well I agree for the need of quality, but quality doesn’t reach the user anymore only because it is good quality. You have to count on multiplier effects through forwarding and publishing in different formats and media.
I also think that it is great if friends find your stuff as they potentially forward it to people you don’t know. My experience is that the network grows slowly but precisely through the strongest linkages we have.
I hope you keep an eye on the blog updates of the workshop and continue to jump in.