Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago

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How speeches can bring trust in democracy: a conversation between an academic and a practitioner

Thursday 3 October 2024

What is this event about?
The EU institution that has discussion, debate and argument at its very heart and as its core mission is the EU’s only directly-elected body: the European Parliament.
The intrinsic link between speeches and democracy has existed since they emerged together in Ancient Greece. And it is just as important today, in our divided and polarised times.
In this context, how can speeches bring trust in democracy?
Following an opening by Vice-president Victor Negrescu, rhetoric professor Jens E. Kjeldsen will share his expertise. He will be in conversation with the founder and leader of the 'Speaking with impact community of practice' in the European Parliamentary Research Service, Isabelle Gaudeul-Ehrhart.
From their experience and writings, the academic and the practitioner will launch a conversation designed to help Members, leaders, their assistants and speechwriters, grasp how their speeches too can bring trust in democracy.

Speakers include:
Victor Negrescu, Vice-president of the European Parliament
Jens Kjeldsen, professor of rhetoric, head author of the book Speechwriting in theory and practice, laureate of the Grand Award of the international Cicero Speechwriting Award (2023), and co-founder and longtime president of Rhetoric Society of Europe
Isabelle Gaudeul-Ehrhart, founder and leader of the European Parliament Research Service 'Speaking with impact community of practice', author of Parler avec impact, Cicero Awards judge and member of the Advisory Board of the Professional Speechwriters Association