Political Campaigns, Communications & The Internet
Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Friday, August 31, 2007

Campaigning, communication and Internet have become indispensable tools for any organisation in a modern dynamic world. The battle for attention, for change, for setting the agenda has become a craft in itself. Thanks to a large variety of specialists and campaigners from political parties, NGO's and business, you will gain insight in the ins and outs of their latest campaigns and techniques.

You will find presentations on successful campaigns online, what works and what doesn't work?, the latest developments in electoral research, image making, spin doctoring, internet communities and tricks and tactics to fundraise money for your campaign.

Applicant Profile

This course is open to professionals and students in the field of campaigning, public affairs, communication, journalism and the academic world.

Course Leader & Moderator

Jacques Monasch - Strategy & Communications Advisor (formerly working for NDI in Kiev & Moscow)

Daily Programme

Wednesday, August 29

09.00 AM Registration;
10.00 AM Opening & Introduction of the Participants — Jacques Monasch - Strategy & Communications Advisor (formerly working for NDI in Kiev & Moscow);
10.30 AM The Netherlands - Recent & Expected Campaign Developments — Jacques Monasch - Strategy & Communications Advisor (formerly working for NDI in Kiev & Moscow);
11.15 AM Coffee break;
11.45 AM The Art of Polling - Quantitative Research, Lifestyle Research & Campaigns — Martijn Lampert (Netherlands) - Research Director; Motivaction;
01.15 PM Lunch;
02.00 PM The Core of Every Campaign - What's Your Message? — Jacques Monasch - Strategy & Communications Advisor (formerly working for NDI in Kiev & Moscow);
03.00 PM Tea break;
03.30 PM Campaigning on the Internet - What Makes Online Campaigning Successful? — Patrick Klerks (Netherlands) - E-Campaigner; Oxfam Novib;
05.00 PM Break;
05.15 PM Resuming lecture;
06.30 PM Drinks in the foyer of Felix Meritis;
07.00 PM Dinner Lecture: How Blogs, YouTube & Google Are Changing Campaigns & Communications — Tom Calthrop (United Kingdom) - Social Entrepreneur; Barnraiser Project.
These days people can publish blogs and videos to the web with ease. They can collaborate, share knowledge and network with like-minded people for this is the age of the empowered Internet citizen, or is it!? We, the people of the Internet age, are evolving, but who are we and just how far have we come?? Tom Calthrop (United Kingdom) will discuss Internet society, people, their identities and the way the Internet is shaping our lives as well as new ways to consider "target market" when building campaigns. Food for thought!?

Thursday, August 30

09.30 AM Global Media Developments - The Rise of Interpretative Journalism, Infotainment & the Dominance of Conflict, Image & Soundbites — Kay van der Linde (Netherlands) - Campaign Strategist; HVR;
11.00 AM Coffee break;
11.30 AM Image making - The Comeback of a Prime Minister — Jules Kortenhorst (Netherlands) - Member of Parliament; CDA (Christian Democrats);
12.30 PM Lunch;
01.30 AM Spinning or Being Spinned - The Golden Rules of Communications — Jacques Monasch - Strategy & Communications Advisor (formerly working for NDI in Kiev & Moscow);
02.30 PM Tea break;
03.00 PM "Street Fight" - Campaign Documentary on the Mayoral Elections in Newark, NJ, USA;
04.30 PM Discussion on "Streetfight", Q&A's strategy and tactics about campaigning — moderator Jacques Monasch - Strategy & Communications Advisor (formerly working for NDI in Kiev & Moscow);
05.00 PM End of day;

Friday, August 31

10.00 AM Morning Lecture: An Introduction to Practical Social Networking & Citizen Media — Tom Calthrop (United Kingdom) - Social Entrepreneur; Barnraiser Project;
In this lecture we take a more in depth look at participation in Internet media and social networking. Tom Calthrop (United Kingdom) will demonstrate how easy it is to build a collaborative website and give examples of how it can be used together with social networking techniques to build collaboration around your chosen mission.
11.00 AM Coffee break;
11.30 AM Social Networking - Q & A session — Tom Calthrop (United Kingdom) - Social Entrepreneur; Barnraiser Project — Patrick Klerks (Netherlands) - E-Campaigner; Oxfam Novib — Jacques Monasch - Strategy & Communications Advisor (formerly working for NDI in Kiev & Moscow);
12.30 PM Lunch;
01.30 PM Who Is Going to Pay For All This? - The Techniques of Fundraising — Roeland Ramakers (Netherlands) - Director; Bureau Op Drift;
02.30 PM The Art of Campaigning - Section of Favourite Campaign Video's, Campaign Material , Slogans & Tactics from around the World — Jacques Monasch - Strategy & Communications Advisor (formerly working for NDI in Kiev & Moscow) and participants;
03.15 PM Evaluation;
04.00 PM Farewell drinks in the Foyer.

* Programme and speakers may be subject to change.

Application

Only a few places are still available. Applicants will be selected on a first-come-first-served basis.

E-mailed applications can not be accepted as a signature on the application form is required.

AMSU Course Name: POLI-1.

Details

Date: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Friday, August 31, 2007.

Application Deadline: Only a few places are still available. Applicants will be selected on a first-come-first-served basis.
Contact us to enquire about availability.

Capacity: 25 participants.

Language of Instruction: English.

Location: The Felix Meritis building, located at Keizersgracht 324, in the centre of Amsterdam.

Fee: € 775,- (including course materials, lunches, coffee and tea breaks during the course).

Initiators: The Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University (AMSU) and Jacques Monasch - Strategy & Communications Advisor (formerly working for NDI in Kiev & Moscow).

Coordination: The Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University (AMSU).

Registration: Confirmed participants are expected to register at the building Felix Meritis, located at Keizersgracht 324 in Amsterdam on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at 9.30 hours.

Course Leader & Moderator

Jacques Monasch - Strategy & Communications Advisor (formerly working for NDI in Kiev & Moscow).

Jacques Monasch works world-wide with enterprises, NGO's, political parties and parliamentary factions on agenda setting, media strategy, campaigning and communications. Amongst others he worked for the Dutch Labour Party as director of policy, research and campaigning, and as the head of the information department of that party. He has worked in various countries in the Former Soviet Union, Central Europe and for the ANC in South Africa. His recent clients include major mobile operators, national sport organisations, third world NGO's, local governments, probational and educational associations and media trainings for various national and international clients.

Accommodation

For this course the AMSU can not arrange for accomodation, but can only give advise about housing, mainly in hotels. Participants should arrange their own accommodation.

Information about hotels