LU konference
The lecture is offered by the Presidential Chancery in co-operation with the University of Latvia and will take place on November 22, 2010, from 10:00 to 11:30 in the Great Hall of the University of Latvia.
Nik Gowing delivers the BBC news on a daily basis, hosts the programmes The World Debate and The Hub and has been an active moderator of discussions at the World Economic Forum and the Brussels Forum of the German Marshall Fund. Nik Gowing’s “‘Skyful of Lies’ and Black Swans” will highlight how modern technologies have allowed anyone to witness to events and, thus, become a representative of “new media”. Thus, the relevant institutions face new challenges to react to events in a timely and effective way. The author carried out a research for the Reuters Institute, Oxford University, to analyse the fragile and easily injured nature of governmental institutions and private sector participants, as well as the way in which IT and communication technologies that are developing so quickly and “creators of information” being found nearly everywhere influence communication in crisis situations.
The lecture will be of use to anyone who deals with crisis management on a daily basis or is interested in the new media role and impact on the communication environment. Leaders of state and private institutions, communication specialists, media representatives, experts and students – all interested in politics, international relations, crisis management and communication science are welcome to the lecture.
Gowing’s book is available for free here 
The lecture will be held in English. Admission to the lecture is free.
About Nik Gowing:
Since 1996 Nik Gowing has been the leading and longest serving presenter on BBC World News. From 1996 to 2000 Nik Gowing was the anchor for news programme The World Today. He is also one of founding presenters of Europe Direct, as well as has been a principal anchor on both HARDtalk and Simpson’s World. Nik Gowing is a regular moderator of news programme for audiences across South Asia The Hub with Nik Gowing.
Nik Gowing has been a principal programme presenter for much of BBC World News’ coverage of major international crises including Kosovo in 1999 and Iraq in 2003. He spent six hours on air shortly after the Twin Towers were hit by terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; the coverage won the prestigious Hotbird Award. Gowing also made the announcement of Princess Diana’s death to a global audience estimated at half a billion.
He also anchors special location coverage of major international events, among them BBC World Debates at the World Economic Forum in Davos and the annual Nobel Awards in Stockholm.
Before joining the BBC, Nik Gowing was a foreign affairs specialist and presenter at ITN for 18 years.
About the Presidential lecture series:
The lecture series “Readings by World Leaders” was initiated by Latvian President Valdis Zatlers in honour of the 90th anniversary of the University of Latvia. The aim is to enable representatives of academia, the intelligentsia and the media in Latvia to hear eminent global figures in variety of disciplines – people who can offer a broader view of global economic, political and social issues and stimulate to think about future progress.
The idea of the lecture series occurred to the President while he was meeting with global leaders and opinion-makers in the fields of politics, economics and social issues. Among those who responded to the President’s invitation have been Professor Klaus Schwab, creator and chief executive officer of the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland), John Hope Bryant, philanthropist, businessman and deputy chairman of the US President’s Consulting Council on Financial Education and John Newbigin, writer and creative entrepreneur.
Translated by students of the professional study programme Translator of the University of Latvia.
The lecture will be held in English. Admission to the lecture is free.
About Nik Gowing:
Since 1996 Nik Gowing has been the leading and longest serving presenter on BBC World News. From 1996 to 2000 Nik Gowing was the anchor for news programme The World Today. He is also one of founding presenters of Europe Direct, as well as has been a principal anchor on both HARDtalk and Simpson’s World. Nik Gowing is a regular moderator of news programme for audiences across South Asia The Hub with Nik Gowing.
Nik Gowing has been a principal programme presenter for much of BBC World News’ coverage of major international crises including Kosovo in 1999 and Iraq in 2003. He spent six hours on air shortly after the Twin Towers were hit by terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; the coverage won the prestigious Hotbird Award. Gowing also made the announcement of Princess Diana’s death to a global audience estimated at half a billion.
He also anchors special location coverage of major international events, among them BBC World Debates at the World Economic Forum in Davos and the annual Nobel Awards in Stockholm.
Before joining the BBC, Nik Gowing was a foreign affairs specialist and presenter at ITN for 18 years.
About the Presidential lecture series:
The lecture series “Readings by World Leaders” was initiated by Latvian President Valdis Zatlers in honour of the 90th anniversary of the University of Latvia. The aim is to enable representatives of academia, the intelligentsia and the media in Latvia to hear eminent global figures in variety of disciplines – people who can offer a broader view of global economic, political and social issues and stimulate to think about future progress.
The idea of the lecture series occurred to the President while he was meeting with global leaders and opinion-makers in the fields of politics, economics and social issues. Among those who responded to the President’s invitation have been Professor Klaus Schwab, creator and chief executive officer of the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland), John Hope Bryant, philanthropist, businessman and deputy chairman of the US President’s Consulting Council on Financial Education and John Newbigin, writer and creative entrepreneur. Translated by students of the professional study programme Translator of the University of Latvia.
