NAIROBI, Kenya Mar 9 – Woodrow, a global communications consultancy, has launched a PR academy in Kenya to support the development of communications professionals.
The academy targets to bridge the skills gap in the PR industry for the next generation of communications leaders.
It will run a regular series of free expert-led workshops, backed by a curriculum addressing modern-day PR challenges in the communication sector.
The workshops, which will be held both virtually and in person in Nairobi, will cover a wide range of subjects, including what makes a great broadcast interview, how to work with newswires, what makes a story, the art of great writing, business journalism, and managing the client-agency relationship.
The free-to-all communications training program is the first of its kind to be set up by an international agency in Africa.
International names from the Economist, Reuters, and CNN will also join Kenyan talent from CNBC and others. Woodrow, which is based in London, New York, and now Nairobi, was recently announced for the second year in a row in the Financial Times as one of the fastest-growing companies in Europe.
David Karega, Woodrow Head of East and Southern Africa, said the consultancy will convene experts from various industries to nurture and upskill PR professionals across the East and Southern Africa region.
“Our aim is to give participants a unique blend of industry insights and creativity. They’ll have access to names that have reached the very top of their profession, both at home and abroad, who can truly motivate and inspire young PR professionals across the continent,” said Karega Woodrow, Head of East and Southern Africa.
Some of the speakers expected to participate in this year’s training include Winnie Dunbar, former producer of the Oprah Winfrey Show; Jackson Biko, author, creative writer, and storytelling expert; and Jonathan Rosenthal, Africa Editor, The Economist.
“The academy is a testament to our commitment to the growth and prosperity of young practitioners, from Kenya to Namibia, South Africa to Somalia. It’s our commitment to clients and fellow agencies even our competitors,” added Charlie Tarr, founder and CEO of Woodrow The first cohort of the academy is expected to commence in April 2024.
