Spring 2024 (#20)

The 20th edition of Convergences reflects on a landmark year for the Club of Venice, exploring the evolving role of public communication in safeguarding European democracy following the 2024 elections. It provides a critical analysis of the “AI revolution,” examining how generative tools and digital innovations are transforming storytelling while posing new ethical challenges and regulatory needs for governmental institutions. The issue focuses heavily on building societal resilience against the “infodemic,” particularly regarding sophisticated disinformation in public health, climate change, and foreign interference. Contributors advocate for a new set of professional competencies, emphasizing strategic decision-making, behavioral insights, and data-driven transparency to rebuild public trust in a fragmented media landscape. Finally, the publication explores innovative models of participatory democracy and citizen engagement, such as European Citizens’ Panels, designed to bridge the gap between institutions and the people they serve.

Key Topics:

1. 2024 European Elections: First ex-post assessments of communication campaigns and strategies to motivate voter turnout across the EU.
2. The AI Transformation: Analyzing the impact of generative AI on institutional communication, from automated content production to “deep-fake” detection.
3. Countering the Infodemic: Coordinated responses to disinformation threats in the fields of public health, climate change, and national security.
4. Strategic Communication Models: Optimizing institutional frameworks through models like the UK’s PITCH approach and data-driven decision-making.
5. New Professional Competencies: Defining the skills required for communicators in a shifting media ecosystem, including digital literacy and visual culture.
6. Communicating EU Enlargement: Managing complex narratives and public sentiment in both member states and candidate countries.
7. Participatory Democracy & Citizens’ Panels: Utilizing the outcomes of the Conference on the Future of Europe to embed deliberative processes in policy-making.
8. Climate Change Narratives: Building vision and credibility in environmental communication to counter greenwashing and skepticism.
9. Institutional Trust & Reputation Management: Strategies for rebuilding credibility and organizational “benefit of the doubt” in a polarized digital age.
10. Behavioral Insights & Nudge Theory: Applying psychological models and “behavioral toolboxes” to enhance public policy delivery and crisis response.