Workshop extols benefits of open communication

Senior clerical and curia staff from the Diocese of East Anglia have attended a media training workshop where they explored the positive opportunities offered by a strategy of open communications.

Led by diocese Director of Communications Keith Morris and CEO of Catholic Voices Brenden Thompson, the workshop examined media coverage of the diocese over the past few years, together with lessons learnt from it.

Brenden then led a session on Reframing – Telling the Church’s Story, in which he looked at how to address difficult subjects in a positive way.

During the day, on May 22 in Poringland, Keith took participants through various difficult communications scenarios and gave them the chance to discuss how they would approach them.

Keith then spoke about the diocese’s communications strategy and principles for communications which include: Integrity, honesty; openness, transparency; timeliness; clarity and accuracy

Keith said: “The aim of the day was to get people thinking and talking through difficult situations and to see open, timely and accurate communications as a positive tool to help work through them.

“The church as a whole is facing a challenging secular environment and we want to be able to communicate in a positive but realistic way about our way forward.”

Pictured top are Brenden Thompson (left) and Keith Morris during the media workshop and, below, workshop participants.

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