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9 March 2012

IDEA seeks communication officer.


IDEA SEEKS COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

IDEA is seeking a Communications Officer to foster a smooth information flow between management/staff throughout our international network in order to produce communications for an external audience across a variety of platforms.  Reporting to the Executive Director, the Communications Officer helps to ensure the highest standards in the delivery of IDEA’s communications tools, by providing strong drafting and editing skills, strong analysis and effective communication skills.

Areas of responsibility: In consultation with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors of IDEA Central Foundation:
1.                   Content development: draft and/or edit press releases, talking points, fact sheets, policy position statements, the fortnightly IDEA email newsletter, bi-annual iDebate magazine, video messages, and other materials;
2.                   Website coordination: draft, edit and/or assist in the regular updating of the IDEA website content in coordination with the website manager;
3.                   Pro-actively provide strategic information to various external audiences about IDEA’s programs, projects,  achievements and initiatives to create awareness, increase impact and enhance support for our objectives;
4.                   Provide strategic direction recommendations to management to ensure consistent messaging in alignment with the organization’s vision and strategies;
5.                   Organize routine and ad hoc internal and external events and meetings in order to ensure consistent messaging in line with our communications strategy;
6.                   Continuously assess, recommend and implement innovative communication tools and methods to accomplish internal and external communication objectives and work with the social media and communications team to coordinate the implementation of our communications strategy;
7.                   Schedule management: maintain a schedule for the submission and launch of press releases, reports, and publications and coordinate with the rest of the organization to ensure timely development and continuous delivery;
8.                   Information management: Ensure dissemination and archiving of communications materials, maintain up-to-date contact lists, maintain and develop IDEA social media presence, respond to requests for information, etc.;
9.                   Needs assessment and outreach: monitor and provide accurate assessment of developments in the debate community and of advocacy opportunities, maintain strong relations with management/staff and external contacts (journalists, researchers and governmental and inter-governmental representatives, etc), and advise management/staff on communications actions; 
10.               Establish and monitor individual work plan, and undertake necessary administrative tasks for own work;
11.               Ensure all materials intended for external audiences meet the IDEA style and branding guidelines; and
12.               Other tasks as requested.



Required experience and skills:
·                     University degree in communications, public relations, or a related field;
·                     At least two years experience working in a communications environment;
·                     Strong native-level English language writing, editing and speaking skills required; other languages desirable, particularly Russian;
·                     Proven experience drafting and editing communications materials for a variety of audiences;
·                     Demonstrated knowledge of relevant issues;
·                     Proven ability to cultivate contacts and develop networks;
·                     Social media and multi-media knowledge;
·                     Attentive to deadlines, flexible and able to deal with high workload;
·                     Strong team player; proven ability to work in a diverse team; able to work independently;
·                     Experience in debate as participant, coach or otherwise is a plus; and
·                     Willingness to travel for work, either alone or with colleagues.

Remuneration: Based in one of the IDEA offices in New York, London or Brussels, the remuneration level for this full time position shall be between $50,000 and $60,000 plus benefits, depending on the candidate's experience and the market selected.  The successful applicant will already have the right to work in one of the above offices.

Expected start date: The successful applicant is expected to start as soon as possible.

How to apply: Qualified candidates should send the following application materials; persons submitting incomplete application packages will not be considered for the position:

1.                   Maximum 500 word letter of interest
2.                   Detailed CV in English;
3.                   Contact details for two present or former employers (from immediate supervisor) and one other relevant referee; and
4.                   An unedited English-language writing sample by the applicant (preferably in a public policy or debate-related area).

Submit to:  Bradley Gallop - IDEA General Counsel
bgallop@idebate.be
Fax: +32 2 535 7275

Application deadline: 23:00 on 27 March 2012.  Applications received after this date will not be considered. Short-listed applicants will be notified within ten days of the deadline; applicants who are not shortlisted will not be contacted.

IDEA is an equal opportunity employer.

100 years of debating at La Verne

 The weekend of March 9, 10, and 11 marks the Centennial for the University of La Verne Debate Team. March 11, 1912 was the day that the Lordsburg Debate College Academy held its very first public debate with the motion, “Be it resolved that Capital Punishment should be abolished.” 100 years later, the University of La Verne commemorates the occasion with three events designed to honor their past, celebrate their present, and inspire their future.

Friday March 9 will kick off the weekend with the Championship round of the La Verne Faculty Debate Series. For over a month, the La Verne Debate Team has hosted a series of debates in the BP format for La Verne Faculty. After the preliminary rounds, the Final Round will involve Dr. Bill Cook, Professor Sean Dillon, Dr. Jerome Garcia, Dr. Issam Ghazzawi, Dr. Jay Jones, Dr. Ken Marcus, Dr. Jason Neidleman, and Dr. Kat Weaver.

Saturday March 10 will continue with the Lordsburg Union Public Debate. Former ULV debater Nathan Baca, now an Investigative Reporter for KLAS-TV Las Vegas, will participate in a public address and then debate on the motion with current ULV debaters, on the motion, “This House believes that media has destroyed the democratic process.”

Culminating on Sunday March 11, 100 years to the day, the best of La Verne will debate the very same motion that occurred on March 11, 1912. The Opening Government team consists of 2001 Cambridge IV Semifinalist Ernie Minner and 2001 World Semifinalist Stefan Chacon. The Opening Opposition team consists of 2007 US Nationals Champion Rob Ruiz and 2008 US Nationals Finalist Thomas Allison. The Closing Government team consists of the 2000 Sydney World Universities Debate Championship Finalists JJ Rodriguez and Sean Krispinsky. The Closing Opposition team consists of 2006 US National Open Champion John Patrick and 2007 US Nationals Debate Champion Josh Martin.

All the events will be held in the evening at the newly renovated Steve and Ann Morgan Auditorium. These events are open to the public as well as any friends and alumni of ULV. The host for the weekend is none other than the prestigious and kind, World’s Chair Emeritus Ian Lising. With every legacy around our debate community, La Verne is proud to continue the tradition of debate and rhetoric on a grand scale. La Verne Debate: “changing the world, one word at a time.”

Paris Open 2012


Registration for the Paris debating tournament is now officially open! We thus invite and encourage you and your members to come and participate in the Paris Open debating tournament which will take place on the 6th and 7th of April at Telecom ParisTech and we are delighted to welcome Anat Shapira as our Chief Adjudicator: DCA WUDC 2011, DCA EUDC 2007, CA of various tournaments in Netherlands, Turkey, France and Israel. Best ESL speaker WUDC 2006, best ESL speaker EUDC 2005 and 2003. Winner/finalist/top speaker of various other tournamentsThe Paris debating tournament is an annual debate tournament organised by the Paris Debating Union, a group of Parisian university debating societies. The organising team gathers students from some of France's most prestigious universities: Paris Descartes, Sciences Po Paris, Université Panthéon-Assas, and Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications to establish friendly yet competitive debating in France and to continue a true debating tradition throughout Europe and further afield.

This will be a closed motion tournament, where all debates are conducted in British Parliamentary Style (BPS) also known as World Style over a two day period.There will be five preliminary rounds with breaks to semi-finals (with separate English as Second Language semi inclusive) and finals. The team cap is restricted to 48 teams (with the N-1 rule applying for judges) and a registration fee of €70 per team (i.e. 35 € per person) is required.

While now officially an open (composite teams permitted) the organisers extend this definition to mean an open flow of wine throughout the tournament! We also welcome a certain infamous lemon-sugar-vodka drink to our socials!
The Paris IV has been highly praised in terms of quality and style, making it a tournament you do not want to miss. We look forward to hearing from you, and do hope to see you at what certainly promises to be an unforgettable event! So for the chance to meet interesting people, in beautiful surroundings right in the heart of what is arguably the world’s greatest city, come to the Paris Open 2012!


To register visit: www.paris-iv.com. Our Facebook page can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paris-IV-debating-tournament/398293203518981and the official Facebook event is at: http://www.facebook.com/events/307552229309788/

For further enquiries, please contact: contact@paris-iv.com

Hilary Bowen-Walsh
Communications/PR,
Paris Open organisation team 2012

7 March 2012

Debate Mate: Job Opportunities‏


Debate Mate is looking for people to fill the following positions:
Programme Directors
Trainee Operations Manager

Debate Mate is a charity that uses debating to deliver key skills to young people in areas of high child poverty.  Focusing on developing communication, interpersonal and higher order thinking skills, and building confidence and self-esteem, Debate Mate uses university student debaters to deliver a range of innovative, cutting-edge educational programmes.

Debate Mate works with young people of ALL abilities, providing opportunities to children in some of the UK’s most challenging schools.

Based in the London Bridge area, but with programmes in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol, and operating in USA, Nepal and the UAE, Debate Mate is a rapidly expanding organisation.  2500 young people take part in Debate Mate clubs each week, 300 university students currently mentor on Debate Mate programmes, and Debate Mate runs some of the biggest debating competitions in the UK.  Debate Mate is supported by News International, Deutche Bank, Credit Suisse, BSkyB, JP Morgan, Clifford Chance, major hedge and investment funds, and others.
All posts will be starting in September.  Salaries: Competitive.  Job descriptions and what we are looking for in successful candidates can be found at www.debatemate.com/jobs.
To apply please send a CV and cover letter to jess@debatemate.com. The deadline for applications is the 15:00 on the 30th March. 
Interviews will be taking place in May.  

For more detailed job descriptions visit www.debatemate.com/jobs

Thanks,

Debate Mate


--
Jessica Dix
Educational Development Director,
Debate Mate
CAN Mezzanine
32 - 36 Loman Street
London
SE1 0EH
t: 020 7922 8008
m: 07701077487
t: debate_mate
DEBATE MATE is a reg charity 1121222
“Debate Mate is a wonderful organisation which inspires children. The debating groups and training programmes are first class.."
- Sir Michael Wilshaw, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, Ofsted, October 2011

Budapest Open‏


From March 2-4 the first edition of the Budapest Open took place at the Central European University in Budapest. A total of 48 teams debated in 4 preliminary rounds to break to semi-finals.

The tournament was won by ‘Pinky and the Brain’ (Macedonia) on a 3-2 split. The best speaker was Maja Cimerman. The final adjudication panel consisted of Stephen Boyle (CA),  Tijana Mijalkovic, Manos Moschopoulos, Yoni Cohen-Idov and Leela Koenig.

These are the motions:

R1: THW not imprison those convicted of non-violent crimes
R2: THW make development aid conditional upon the improvement of women’s rights.
R3: THW lift the ban on Communist symbols in all post-communist EU member states
R4: THW only provide state pension to those mentally or physically unable to work.

SF: THW ban medicine designed to erase human memories
F: THBT violent activities to achieve anti-capitalist aims in Western societies are justified

The debating societies of the Central European University and Corvinus University hope to see you next year in beautiful Budapest!