BBG provides critical health reporting training in Tblisi, Georgia
Thirty four journalists, journalism educators and communication officers participated in an August 16-18 seminar on crisis health reporting hosted by the Broadcasting Board of Governors at the Ilia State University in Tbilisi, Georgia. The BBG Seminar on Avian Influenza, Other Pandemic Diseases and Disaster Preparedness featured lectures, roundtable discussions, group work, case studies and hands-on social media platform sessions for reporting on influenza and natural disaster issues.
U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland greeted the participants, and in his opening remarks underscored the important role that media plays in building a peaceful and prosperous democratic state.
Participants from major and regional print, radio, television and online media organizations and public communication offices across Georgia took part in workshops focused on national and international strategies to prevent and address emergencies, the role of media in covering health crises, best practices of health and emergency reporting, and risk communication principles.
Trainers, including Inna Dubinsky Development Officer for BBG; Dan Rutz, Health Communication Specialist from the Center for Disease Control, Fatima Tlisova, Web Editor for VOA’s Russian Service, and Marina Vashakmadze, Director of RFE/RL Georgian Bureau and Head of Tavisupleba Media School in Tbilisi joined representatives from the Georgia Ministry of Internal Affairs/Department of Emergency Management and National Center for Disease Control and Public Health.
The seminar was sponsored by the Department of State and held in partnership with the Ilia State University, Tavisupleba Media School, Georgia National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, and Ministry of Internal Affairs/ Department of Emergency Management.