RAMALLAH, October 12, 2010 (WAFA)- American strategic communication and political campaign expert Peter McDonough participated in a series of workshops and meetings with Palestinian Authority (PA) Ministers and over 15 media and public relations officers from PA ministries, the Press Office of President Abbas, representatives of the Palestinian Government Media Center and Palestinian activists and community leaders in Ramallah, October 4-7.
The purpose of the four-day visit, sponsored by the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem and organized in cooperation with the Palestinian Government Media Center, was to share Mr. McDonough’s experience in directing and executing successful efforts to promote public and private policy initiatives, organizations and candidates.
During his visit, Mr. McDonough and Palestinian governmental and non-profit spokespersons, press officers, journalists and activists engaged in lively discussions about the challenges facing their organizations in delivering their respective messages and accurate information regarding policies and programs to the Palestinian and international publics in a timely manner, and how to strengthen the free flow of information.
“All of the discussions and training sessions were aimed at helping participants better convey their messages and to get the right information to the right people at the right time,” Mr. McDonough said. “More than anything else, programs like these are designed to enhance the free flow of information by sharing our expertise and skills with the participants,” adding, “in all respects, the programs were a success.”
Consulate Press Attaché Arlissa Reynolds stated that “The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem is pleased to have partnered with the Palestinian Government Media Center on this program aimed at supporting the efforts of the Palestinian Authority to strengthen efforts of PA Ministries and those of others to ensure that the Palestinian public has access to accurate information.”
Reiterating President Obama’s commitment to freedom of information, Ms. Reynolds noted that, “the freer the flow of information the stronger societies can become.”
Mr. McDonough has served at the highest staff levels in both the executive and legislative branches of New Jersey state government and the federal government including in the cabinet of New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman as her director of communications and chief political advisor. He also served as chief of staff to a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and as a consultant to the U.S. State Department, U.S. Agency of International Development and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He has consulted or directed more than 50 political campaigns in the US and in Eastern Europe. Mr. McDonough is an adjunct professor and visiting associate at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University.
Mr. McDonough’s visit is one of many programs sponsored by the Consulate to promote dialogue and mutual understanding between Americans and Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.
