Greater transparency and information quality enhancement – the basic factors for strengthening integrity and restoring confidence in the judiciary, also define courts’ responsibility and obligation when communicating with media and public.
In cooperation with the Judicial Academy of the Republic of Serbia, the EU-funded “Judicial Efficiency” project organised 12 interactive workshops, from February to June this year, for all 66 basic courts in the Republic of Serbia, aiming at helping the courts’ spokespeople adopt specific skills that would prepare them professionally and successfully report on the work of the courts. Drafting communication strategies, professional reporting, social media and electronic communications, public speaking and crisis PR were some of the topics addressed at the workshops through practical exercises, case studies and discussions.
Based on the feedback received, the Manual, titled „Guide for professional and successful courts’ communication with public”, was designed to provide further assistance to courts’ spokespeople in their work, help them better communicate with media, and therefore improve court users’ and general public understanding of the work of judicial bodies and perception of their efficiency.
Today’s conference, organized to promote the Manual, gathered the respective courts’ presidents and spokespeople, as well as representatives of the Judicial Academy and the Supreme Court of Cassation.
Director of Judicial Academy, Nenad Vujic, opened the conference. “Support provided by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia is important and recognized, not only in financial terms – given the great values of EU-funded projects, but also in possibilities given to judicial Staff to see good practices, access and learn from EU legislative acts, as well as to work with highly qualified experts” – said Mr. Vujic, while welcoming participants.
