To help prospective candidates for public office improve their public speaking skills and gain better name recognition, a one-day workshop titled "Public Speaking and Media Skills" will be offered by the Women's Campaign School at Yale this spring.
The workshop, which is also designed to be useful for those planning to work as campaign staff members or volunteers, will be held on Saturday, April 19, at the Law School, 127 Wall St. The cost is $40, which includes a luncheon hosted by members of the working press. Early sign-up is advised since space is limited.
Workshop participants will practice radio and TV interview strategies and participate in a public speaking clinic. Two professional image consultants will be available for personal image evaluation sessions.
Lecture topics will include how to create an effective media plan, attention-getting strategies, public speaking techniques, image enhancement, paid media and direct mail exposure. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro has been invited to speak at the luncheon, and a Yale women's choral group will provide entertainment.
Andree Aelion Brooks, founder of the Women's Campaign School and former columnist for the New York Times, will direct the workshop.
Speakers and discussion leaders will include Bob Schaffer, a campaign consultant from Boston who wrote "Winning Local and State Elections"; Lisa Marie Pane of Reuters; Dianne Wildman, Emmy Award-winning TV commentator; Ruth Lyon, public speaking coach; Laura Lopata, image consultant; and Judith Germano, media relations specialist. Tips on campaigning will be offered by attorneys John Pavia and Allyson Serxner and by lobbyist Chris Healy, all former campaign aides.
The Women's Campaign School at Yale, cosponsored by Yale Law School and the women's studies program, was founded to address the obstacles women face when running for elected office or working as campaign staff consultants. The school will also offer a five-day comprehensive campaign training session, June 4-8. For more information and a registration form, call 1-800-353-2878.