Writing for the Internet and Beyond: New Approaches to Producing Concise and Attractive Texts

Description 

The internet has brought many changes in everyone’s daily life, both at work and privately. It has also changed the way of written communication in Public Administration. Communication via the internet aims at reaching broader audiences and being easily accessible to both citizens and businesses. Consequently, writers of texts to be published on the internet need to keep their messages short and simple, and use language effectively.

 The workshop introduces the participants to useful text formats for various communication platforms (e.g., intranet, internet). Participants get to know and try out creative strategies and techniques for all phases of the process of text writing and revising. The presented techniques can enable participants to produce more concise and reader-friendly texts in little time.

Participants have the opportunity to put new insights into practice right away. The practical workshop comprises group discussions as well as small group and individual exercises.

Target group

Young professionals who have to produce texts for the intranet and the internet.

Objectives

• To explore and discuss features of effective texts for the intranet and other digital communication platforms;

• To become aware of the use of appropriate language for different audiences;

• To get to know creative techniques for writing and revising texts under time pressure;

• To get to know strategies and techniques for cooperative and step-by-step writing.

Programme

The programme will commence on Monday 11 January at 10.00 hrs and finish on Tuesday 12 January at 13.00 hrs.

Seminar venue

The seminar will take place at the European Institute of Public Administration, O.L. Vrouweplein 22, NL-6211 HE Maastricht, tel.: +31.43.3296222, fax: +31.43.3296296.

Working language

The seminar will be conducted in English.

Fee

The participation fee is € 690 and includes documentation, 1 lunch, 1 dinner and refreshments. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.

Hotel reservations

The European Institute of Public Administration will be pleased to make reservations for you at a hotel in Maastricht. We have made a block booking at a hotel in Maastricht: Hotel Mabi**** (www.hotel-mabi.nl), at a rate of € 99 p.p.p.n. (incl. breakfast and tourist tax, exact rate for 2010 is not known yet). Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please indicate the name of the hotel and the dates of arrival and departure on the registration form. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel on checking out. Please note that if you register after the closing date, hotel reservations cannot be guaranteed.

Meals

The lunch will be served at the Institute’s restaurant. Should you require a special menu (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic), please inform the Programme Organiser so that this can be arranged.

Confirmation

Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed registration form.

Payment

Prior payment is a condition for participation. Please indicate the method of payment on the registration form. In any case, the participant or his/her administration will receive an invoice for the payment of the registration fee. For cancellations received after the date indicated on the registration form we will have to charge an administration fee of € 150 unless a replacement participant is found.