In a world where the digital content has become an integral part of the way we communicate and share information and knowledge, media skills are a vital element of one’s professional competence. In order to inform people about something that matters, an individual needs developed public speaking skills. 

That is especially true for people who have to communicate specific and sensitive information to the wider audience. Migration is a topic that is still a subject to prejudice, cliches and general misunderstanding. Honing the media and public speaking skills of professionals working in the sphere is a crucial part of increasing the larger audience’s interest and understanding of the topics of migration, thus helping them form an objective, unbiased and informed opinion. 

On August 22 and 23, 2022 in implementation of its project “Strengthening the Capacity of National Institutions and Non-Governmental Organizations in the Field of Asylum” funded by the National Program of Bulgaria under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund 2014-2020, IOM Bulgaria conducted media skills and public speaking training for employees of the Migration Directorate. 

The training was divided into theoretical and practical parts, and participants had the opportunity to apply what they had learned by practicing on-camera public speech in an environment that simulated a real-life TV studio. Leading the training session was Desislava Stoyanova - a journalist with many years of experience and an established television personality.