Overview
Objectives
At the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Characterise the specificities of humanitarian communications
- Understand the international, regional and local media landscapes, including digital media
- Engage in media training
- Assess the concept of “media power” and the logic of media attention and coverage
- Evaluate the challenges of media relations and the opportunities for humanitarian reporting
- Examine humanitarian representations and the visual politics of aid
- Analyse the ethical and deontological outcomes of media relations and messaging
Audience
Professional in the humanitarian, development or social sector looking to develop their competencies in media and public relations
Professional from other sectors (journalism, marketing, PR, policymaking, philanthropy) who wishes to increase their understanding of humanitarian communications
Graduate student with relevant volunteer or intern experience, looking to undertake a postgraduate course to explore the specificities of media and humanitarian collaborations
Professional from other sectors (journalism, marketing, PR, policymaking, philanthropy) who wishes to increase their understanding of humanitarian communications
Graduate student with relevant volunteer or intern experience, looking to undertake a postgraduate course to explore the specificities of media and humanitarian collaborations
Programme
- What are humanitarian communications?
- Traditional media and the digital revolution (media landscapes)
- Effective media training
- Media attention and forgotten crises
- Humanitarian journalism and crisis reporting
- Visual politics of aid and humanitarian iconography
- Ethics of humanitarian communication and deontology of humanitarian reporting
Registration
Registration deadline
Contact coordinator
Fees:
- Full price: CHF 1'700
- Partner rate (ICRC, MSF): CHF 1'360 (20% discount)
- Special Rate for Government and NGO/CBO Staff: CHF 850. Available exclusively to staff from local and national NGOs, CBOs, and government employees in low/middle-income countries. Proof of local employment and salary required.
There is no available scholarship for this programme.
Admission criteria
- a university qualification (bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
- at least three years of relevant professional experience;
- excellent command of English;
- motivation working in the humanitarian sector.
More information about the admission process is available on our application page.
Number of participants
The number of participants is adapted to the chosen pedagogy.
Application File
- Copy of identity document or passport
- Passport photo (.jpg format)
- Curriculum vitae
- Cover letter (explaining what is the reason why you apply for this course and how will the acquired skills help you in your career)
- Copy of the highest educational qualification obtained
- Copy of work certificate or official document of the current job position
- Proof of English language level
- Employer's funding agreement, if applicable
- Employer's letter of support (recommended)
- Scholarship application form (if applicable). Please refer to humanitarianstudies.ch/application.
More information about the application process is available on our application page.
Curriculum
Period
Contact coordinator
Credits
2 ECTS credits
Teaching hours
50 distance teaching hours
Director(s)
Prof. Karl BLANCHET, Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, a joint Centre of the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), Geneva
Coordinator(s)
Dr Valérie GORIN, Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies
Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
