Autumn 2017 (#10)

Convergences #10 (2017) focuses on how public communicators can rebuild citizens’ trust and engagement while relaunching European institutional communication in a period marked by euroscepticism, disinformation, and major crises. A central theme is the refugee and migration crisis, treated as a long-term communication and coordination challenge for governments, EU institutions, and partners. The issue also highlights strategic communication responses to terrorism and misinformation, including the London Charter as a shared commitment to cooperation, transparency, and impartiality. Across reports and articles, it emphasises professionalisation, capability building, and behaviour change as key directions for modern public sector communication.

Key Topics:

1. Governmental communication academies as catalyzers: Professionalisation models and training approaches (including “three level education”).
2. Relaunching the European institutional communication: Ideas and proposals to strengthen EU level communication strategies.
3. Citizens’ engagement and trust: Priorities and practices aimed at regaining confidence in institutions.
4. Contrasting euroscepticism and building bridges: Tackling distance, polarisation, and legitimacy challenges.
5. The refugee and migration crisis: Seminars, study visits, and communication lessons from the field.
6. Terrorism and crisis communication: Long-lasting crisis communication frameworks and coordination needs.
7. The London Charter: Reinforced cooperation against misinformation, for transparency and objective communication values.
8. StratCom and countering disinformation: Strategic communication challenges, resilience, and partnerships.
9. Soft power developments: Public diplomacy debates and the limits of “corporatised” soft power approaches.
10. Behaviour change and capability: Campaign insights, content marketing, skills/structure, and “The Leaders’ Report” perspective.