The New Media Landscape / Laptop Diplomacy – Timely and reliable media intelligence is key, Wednesday 21 October, 2015, Nieuwspoort Press Centre, The Hague.
Pictures by Anton van der Riet.
By Elizabeth Naumczyk.
A roundtable meeting focusing on the increased impact of social media in diplomacy and in the national interest of countries with representation in The Netherlands was held on the afternoon of 21 October, 2015. The event was sponsored by the Global Media Analysis Services (GMAS) and included media analysts, ambassadors and diplomats.
These talks stressed the usefulness and necessity of timely media monitoring and interpretation of online information for foreign embassies in the Netherlands.
The session was moderated by GMAS Senior Advisor, and former Ambassador of the Netherlands, Mr Eric Niehe. The program commenced with introductions by Mr Guido van Nispen, Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANP, CEO), Mr Ghalied Rodjan Media Info Groep (MIG), Account Manager International Relations and Professor Dr Jan Melissen, Clingendael Institute.
Mr Van Nispen summarized the history of the Netherlands national news agency (ANP) and its aim to provide unbiased news working together with EPA in Germany, AP in the United States and EFA in Spain. He described the huge volume of big data that had to be managed with appropriate tools but was also a great opportunity for information sharing. These days people want to be kept updated constantly on mobile devices.
Mr Rodjan stated it was the 100 year anniversary of Media Info Groep, primarily a media monitoring and media intelligence service. It is concerned with how your information is being utilized and how the media is affecting your country or its relationship with the Netherlands. They are in partnership with GMAS. Their client focused services were able to provide specific reports on countries and how best to get your message across in different ways.
The reason for the meeting is the study by the Clingendael Institute entitled: “Diplomacy in the Digital Age”, commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and Belgium.
Many countries in the world are interested in the report and encourage their diplomats to take cognizance of the content. The keynote speaker, Professor Jan Melissen (who is a collaborator of Diplomat Magazine) spoke about the rapidly changing media landscape to the assembled diplomats and its impact on the actions of their own countries and organizations.
The digital era provided opportunities to achieve different ways of doing things. Information gathering, processing and analyzing had become a huge challenge. Diplomats need more than ever to take account of the views of citizens in the public and political debate and react quickly to misinformation. Society itself becomes a resource and what people know helps governments in crafting solutions. Solutions needed to be explored within the workflows and skill base of an embassy, optimizing the internal network and information sharing within an external network. Success in the application of digital technology was seen in improving the delivery of consular services to vast numbers of people.
Digital Diplomacy makes you visible. While the essentials of diplomacy will always remain, these tools are a game changer. Professor Melissen also mentioned the work done by the Lowy Institute in Australia on how social media serves your foreign policy.
This was followed by a panel discussion which included Mr Bernard Hammelburg, Senior Foreign Affairs Commentator, BNR news radio, Mr Willem Post, Advisor International Affairs, City of The Hague (collaborator of Diplomat Magazine), Mr Guido van Nispen, General Director and CEO of Holland’s main press agency ANP, and Mr Ard van der Vorst, Head Management Newsroom, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mr Hammelburg emphasized that speed was of the essence and news agencies have to meet the challenge of shifting through lots of information and providing on demand news.
Mr Post said diplomats need to reach out and digital diplomacy was one among many diplomacies.
Mr Van Nispen explained that the Dutch press had a wide variety of viewpoints. The media allows you to do research beforehand and while negative news can make or break you there is also the opportunity to create news.
Mr Ard van der Vorst pointed out that public office is there to benefit people and is a balance between trust and accountability. In the past diplomats were faceless, now people can see what governments do. Trust can be enhanced between citizens and government by showing accountability, and not only content. You can engage the public in the process by explaining what you do and how efficient you are. It is “traction and interaction”. Diplomacy is about relationships and the digital sphere is one aspect and it can legitimize your organization.
Invited ambassadors and diplomats participated in a lively discussion. One obstacle mentioned was the technological prosperity gap in Africa which needs the assistance and support of the United Nations.
Following Mr Eric Niehe’s concluding remarks, the guests were invited to a reception of drinks and snacks.
