NATO Spokespersons Workshop

Courtesy Photo | A NATO Spokesperson Workshop is held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, May 9, 2009. (Photo by Mr Karlheinz Wedhorn)  

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, BW, GERMANY

05.09.2009

Courtesy Story

NATO - Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

By Mr Karlheinz Wedhorn
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany - A NATO spokesperson has a difficult job and must have the skills to communicate his commander's policies and stances on a variety of issues. The spokesperson's words and actions are dissected by the world media and the manner in which he represents his commander determines the level of host nation support for future NATO mission and future operations.

Twenty-three senior and general officers from 14 nations participated in the first NATO Spokespersons Workshop at the George C. Marshall Centre in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Few held public affairs positions, but their national militaries highly recommended them to acquire the skills necessary to one day be chosen to represent NATO. Lt. Cmdr. Rita LePage, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe chief of media operations and workshop staff member says, "It is absolutely critical that potential NATO military spokespeople be set up for success. And that means taking very senior officers who are competent Army, Navy and Air Force commanders and making spokespeople of them through robust training."

The workshop was designed to provide a deeper understanding of the theory, skills and practices of a spokesperson, current media trends, and how to effectively connect with world media in telling the NATO story. For two and half days, public affairs experts from SHAPE /Allied Command Operations, Allied Command Transformation, United Kingdom Ministry of Defense, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Joint Warfare Center shared their skills and personal experiences with the students on various interviewing techniques.

The students applied that knowledge during videotaped mock interviews in which the staff asked tough, relevant questions about NATO operations. Staff members and other students critiqued each recorded interview not only on how the answers were delivered, but the answers themselves.

"The consequences of a spokesperson misspeaking during an on-the-record interview are significant," said LePage, "not only for ongoing operations where a spokesperson's words can either garner or diminish host nation support for the mission, but in a larger context where consequences can be political to the point of affecting Allied and partner nations' wills to continue participation in the operation."

Although the next Spokespersons Workshop has yet to be scheduled, plans are in the making for a longer, more in-depth learning experience.

• Date Taken: 05.09.2009
• Date Posted: 06.29.2012 14:24
• Story ID: 90863
• Location: GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, BW, DE