The Information Services Department (ISD) has successfully concluded an intensive training programme for officers of the Volta River Authority (VRA) on media monitoring strategies.
The 5-day training programme sought to enhance the media monitoring capabilities of personnel from the Authority’s Corporate Affairs and External Relations Unit by providing practical skills and strategies for effective monitoring and analysing media coverage.
Speaking at the closing ceremony in Accra on Friday, the Acting Director of ISD, Dr. Winnifred Nafisah Mahama, emphasised the importance of incorporating the knowledge acquired from the training into daily workflows.
The programme’s effectiveness, she said, would be determined by the changes that the trainees implement in their media monitoring activities.
“Implement the lessons learned and re-strategise your approach to media monitoring in executing your tasks in your organisation,” she urged
She highlighted the significance of practical, peer-to-peer learning, especially in a professional setting where time constraints often limit traditional classroom learning.
“We appreciate the opportunity to share and impart knowledge in the public sector.” She urged other corporations to call on the Department for their communication training needs.
The Head of Media Monitoring, ISD, Mr Karim Ahmed, provided an overview of the training, which combined both theoretical and practical components.
He stated, “We began with a PowerPoint presentation on media monitoring, covering the principles, what to monitor and how to monitor effectively. We discussed the importance of monitoring, the benefits and the techniques and strategies involved. The training also touched on post-monitoring report generation and how to effectively communicate findings to superiors.”
Mr Ahmed also explained that trainees were guided through monitoring various media channels, including radio, television, print, online and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
“The training emphasised the importance of allocating resources effectively based on data-driven insights,” he added.
He praised the commitment of the VRA officers, noting that they reported for training before the scheduled time, demonstrating their dedication.
The VRA officers expressed their gratitude to the ISD for the insightful knowledge and practical experience they gained during the training.
They assured the Department that they would apply the skills gained to improve the effectiveness of media monitoring within their organization.
Patience Anaadem, ISD
