AEC Catholic communicators take on crises

The Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) Communications Commission, in collaboration with SIGNIS Caribbean, organised a virtual workshop November 21, for Catholic communicators across the Antilles as part of SIGNIS Caribbean’s Annual General Meeting.
Eleven arch/dioceses participated, representing Paramaribo, Kingstown, St George’s-in-Grenada, Roseau, St John’s-Basseterre, Bridgetown, Belize City, Port of Spain, Montego Bay, Nassau, and Castries.
The workshop was led by Donna Ramsammy, a Senior Business Consultant specialising in strategic communications, ethical Public Relations and reputation management with experience and expertise across a wide global geography. Currently, Ramsammy is the Managing Director and Lead Consultant at Virtually Yours T&T Limited.
A report from AEC Communications said that the AEC Bishops felt it was “necessary for regional Catholic communicators to engage in a workshop such as this, as there was recognisable lack of expertise in crisis management in our regional Church.”
Participants learned about the nature of a crisis and how it develops over time. After grasping the theoretical framework, they engaged in a fictional crisis case study, which involved a three-phase practical exercise on how to respond effectively and promptly to a crisis.
In the first stage, participants had to work through the issue analysis and the stakeholder analysis. The issue analysis dealt with identifying the who, what, why, when and how of the fictional crisis. From this information, participants developed the crisis statement.
Following this stage, they proceeded to draft holding statements. These statements are communicated to the press and other media outlets to acknowledge the existence of the crisis.
Phase three of the process involved creating the media release. After the three-phase discussion, participants were invited to evaluate their responses and give feedback. The workshop lasted a total of four hours.
The goal is that each diocese should establish its own Incident Command Crisis Team with a Communications Lead represented on each team. The AEC would also form a Core Crisis Team to handle broader regional matters.
Following this workshop, participants will engage in ongoing coaching and practice in this area.
Certain participants expressed that, “Experiencing crisis response was truly enlightening and informative.” Another added, “When dealing with a crisis, it’s crucial to have a clear process and to act swiftly!”
“This workshop, while virtual, was very practical and gave us the opportunity to really work through a crisis!” “I feel better equipped to respond to a crisis with the information and process presented by Mrs Ramsammy.”
The AEC Communications Commission and SIGNIS Caribbean plan to facilitate additional workshops in 2025 for Catholic Communicators in the region. These workshops will aim to enhance skills in crisis communication, storytelling, and digital media strategies.
Participants will engage in hands-on activities and collaborative projects to better understand the dynamics of effective communication within the Church and the broader community.
By focusing on real-world scenarios and interactive learning, the workshops hope to equip communicators with the tools necessary to navigate complex situations and deliver clear, compassionate messages.
As the Church continues to adapt to the rapidly changing media landscape, these initiatives will play a crucial role in fostering a more informed and connected community.

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