The Gazette 1994

GAZETTE

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1994

N E W S

Ba r A s s o c i a t i o ns R a i se T h e i r M e d i a C o n s c i o u s n e ss

Recently the Gazette joined six members of the Wicklow Bar Association on a half-day media training course in the headquarters of Carr Communications in Dundrum, Co. Dublin. The course, one of a series being staged for Bar Associations around the country, is aimed at teaching practitioners how to communicate effectively in their local media. The courses were instigated by the Public Relations Committee of the Society which is subsiding the cost by 50%. Course tutor, Peter Finnegan, took his participants on a whirlwind tour of the psychology of communicating, with plenty of practical advice on how to deal with the media, prepare for an interview, identify your target audience, present your message in a way that will make those hearing the interview actually listen to and identify with what you haveto say. An important element of the course was teaching interviewees how to take control of a media opportunity and how to deal with inevitable feelings of nervousness. In an action-packed afternoon, each solicitor had the opportunity to test and develop his skills by participating in an interview on a topical issue such as defending fees, the crisis in legal aid funding and why 'capping' compensation awards in personal injury cases will not work. The interviews were then played back so that the participants could evaluate the performances. Later, the Gazette contacted some of the participants for feedback. Richard Joyce, Secretary of Wicklow Bar Association said: "the course was an eye-opener. It made me think about the whole manner in which to approach a media interview. I found it very beneficial and would now be more willing and would feel more confident about doing interviews with

Members of the Wicklow Bar Association:

l-r: Fachtna Whittle, Brian McLoughlin,

Richard Course

Cooke, Richard Joyce, Denis Hipwell and Brendan Connolly with Peter Finnegan,

Tutor, at the media training

course.

P o l i c y D o c u m e n t o n D e a l i n g w i t h O f f e n d e r s The Probation and Welfare Service Branch of the Public Service Union, IMPACT, has published a policy document entitled "The Probation and Welfare Service in Ireland: Confronting Crime, Serving the Community, Working with Offenders". The policy document suggests that the criminal justice system is in need of radical modification and change and puts forward what it describes as "realistic and achievable alternatives which will provide more effective means of combating crime and reducing levels of offending and re- offending in our society." The document argues in favour of greater resources and staffing for the Probation and Welfare Service. Copies of the Publication are available free of charge from Patrick O 'Dea, Public Relations Officer, Probation and Welfare Service Branch, IMPACT (Public Service) Union, c/o Smithfield Chambers, Smithfield, Dublin 7. Tel: 873 3722.

the local media here."

Bar Association President, Brendan Connolly, found the course "very good, very helpful". He added: "I was impressed by how hard the course tutor Peter Finnegan worked. I think the course was of great benefit not just for radio interviews but for any form of communication with the public. The emphasis on making sure that you address your audience in layman's terms was particularly good." Fachtna Whittle, Haughtons, said the course brought home to him that communicating with public was different, say, to addressing a court. "The audiovisual exercises were very effective. I think if every member of the profession did a course of this kind it would go a long way towards helping the image of the profession." To date five Bar Associations have engaged in the training courses and it is hoped that all Bar Associations will do so over the coming months. Further information on the media training courses is available from Barbara Cahalane, Public Relations Executive, at the Law Society. Tel: (01)671 0711 Fax; (01) 671 0136.

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