KAS Academy for Political Communication - When the Periphery is as Important as the Centre

The event brought together political communicators, journalists, spokespersons and public officials from Germany, the UK, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina to discuss the topic "When the Periphery is as Important as the Centre".

The programme focused on political communication outside capital cities and major urban centres. Participants discussed how communication differs in local environments, the role of local and regional media, centre-periphery relations, and the specific opportunities and challenges communicators face when working with local communities. Through expert presentations and panel discussions, they exchanged experiences from different countries and sectors and compared approaches to similar issues.

The Academy also addressed the relationship between journalists and political communicators, as well as the relationship between political communication and lobbyism, the role of local media in informing citizens and shaping public debate, and the impact of social media and new technologies on communication. Participants shared examples from their own professional experience and reflected on how political communication is changing across the region.

The discussions showed that local communities cannot be viewed only through the perspective of capital cities. Understanding local realities, listening to different experiences and adapting communication to specific environments remain important elements of successful political communication. The Academy once again provided an opportunity for participants from different countries and professional backgrounds to exchange ideas and learn from one another.