Amity University organized a five-day virtual training programme “Media Affairs-Communication and Engagement ” for 25 members of the official media of The Government of Guyana from May 30, 2021 to June 4, 2021. The training was organized under the Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation Programme (ITEC)  sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

Congratulating the participants of the training programme during the Valedictory Function held virtually, Savitri Sonia Parag, Minister of Public Service, Government of Guyana said, “ This partnership is important for Guyana. Accomplishment of my country is attributed to the mass media for disseminating information to the people responsibly and correctly, which is also very important for every society to progress . Media training should be conducted for effectively delivering messages. Being skilled journalist is one thing but acquiring necessary skills is important  and I am impressed that the participants have undertaken the training energetically, despite their demanding and busy schedules”. She thanked Amity for the valuable efforts in training her  media personnel  and was hopeful to more of future collaborations between India and Guyana.

 Delivering the Valedictory address, Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, High Commissioner of India to Guyana said, “India attaches high importance with Guyana and is  committed to working closely with Guyana, in the UN and in the CARICOM. India has been contributing through capacity building programmes for Guyana since four decades. This was a special course and curriculum which was designed to cater to Guyanese media professionals. The results are for everyone to see”. He advised participants to share feedback of the programme so that more of such programmes can be initiated after improvisation. He thanked the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Guyana, the Ministry of Public Service, Guyana and Amity University for this programme.”

Congratulating the participants on the successful completion of the training Dr Ashok K Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Group of Institutions thanked the Ministry of External affairs for   initiating this unique programme and remarked that collaborative arrangements with Guyana and India are more successful because English is common to both countries. He expressed his desire to organize more of such programmes which will show a path to many countries for promotion and  growth. 

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During the Valedictory address, Somnath Chatterjee, Director (DPA II), Ministry of External Affairs said, “On behalf of the Ministry of External Affairs, I convey my heartfelt congratulations to all participants or attending this training. This is a specially designed training programme for Guyana. We hope the experience and learning will hold you in good stead.”

The five-day training programme Media Affairs-Communication and Engagement was facilitated by the Amity Institute of Training and Development and the Amity School of Communication, wherein faculties of Amity  and eminent media personalities engaged with various aspects such as Communication Planning and Strategy, Building and Leveraging Media Relations’, managing image on social media, How to engage audiences through storytelling, Public Speaking and Speech Writing; Effective presentation skills, How to face the camera and engage with the media; How to debunk fake news and deal with disinformation and crisis communication and reputation management.  The training programme not only laid stress on  theoretical aspects of writing, communicating but also deliberated on the importance of presentation skills and the art of public speaking.