Government Communication Tactics Have To Radically Change: IGCF Participants Concur

The 8th International Government Communication Forum IGCF), which started today in Sharjah under the theme " Behavioural Change Towards Human Development’, saw the convergence of local, regional and global media experts along with government thought leaders from all over the world

SHARJAH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 20th Mar, 2019) The 8th International Government Communication Forum IGCF), which started today in Sharjah under the theme " Behavioural Change Towards Human Development’, saw the convergence of local, regional and global media experts along with government thought leaders from all over the world.

Internationalising the title of the forum is meant to benchmark Sharjah’s media and communications mandate against global best practices, bringing the latest professional standards of various government communication methods through a collaborative dialogue with decision-makers and thought leaders from around the world.

The Emirates news Agency (WAM) spoke to a number of the guests on the sidelines of their participation in the event’s panel sessions and workshops on a number of topics, including the role of media in building the soft power of a nation; the future of media in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the growing role of machinery; as well as the role of government communication in motivating citizens.

Roger Fisk, Head of the political campaign, marketing and media strategist for former US President Barack Obama, underlined the keenness of the UAE to engage people from around the world through such events that, he said, nations of the world utilise to strengthen their soft power.

"I was a guest of Sharjah Art Foundation recently where they bring people from around the world. There is a lot of energy, creativity and passion. These things along with this forum speak for UAE having a real appetite for engaging people from around the world; they don’t only bring them here but also send them across the world. The Sharjah government extends their support to enable their artists to go out across the world and share the stories of Sharjah and UAE around the world."

Craig Oliver, Director of politics and Communications for the Former Prime Minister David Cameron, UK, underscored the rapid pace of changes engulfing the media industry around the world. "We live in an age where the next journalist deadline is the time it takes someone to type a Tweet. It has become a challenge for governments around the world.

"Government communications persons all over world could not any more just defend themselves in the world of digital, but they have to get their positive message out there, and there are tactics and ways they have to learn to achieve that," he added.

"The media has always been a podium to rally efforts that support sustainable development, specifically in the area of education reforms as a lifelong process that keeps abreast with the spirit of the times, compatible with the rapidly changing requirements and continuous adaptation," Suzanne Afanah, Founder and Managing Partner at Advvise, Media and Communication Expert and Award-Winning Journalist, told WAM.

"According to the International Labour Organisation statistics, the MENA region is in need of 16 million jobs over the next 10 years. This coincides with Oxford University reports that 47% of current jobs will cease to exist over the next decade," she noted.

"This forum rings alarming bells that the region’s governments, civil society, international organisations and media education systems and job markets are changing rapidly, where thousands of jobs will disappear, over the next decade and new ones will emerge," Afanah elaborated.

Meik Wiking CEO, of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, lauded what he described as the "pioneering efforts" made by the UAE through its mass media to promote happiness and positive among various segments. "We are very much aware in Denmark about the pioneering efforts made by the UAE when it established a ministry under Ohoud bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing. This is a wonderful thing for other countries to take inspiration from. And I was very delighted this morning to see the latest World Happiness Report where the UAE is ranked in the 21st place out of more than 150 countries from all over the world."

Marc Pensky, Executive Director for the Global Future Education Foundation and Institute underlined the important role media has to play in the field of education. "That’s why I’m here to help people to understand that we used to treat kids like pets," the researcher exclaimed.

"Do this. Don’t do this.. etc. No; parents have to know kids are now empowered; they have extended mind; they are well connected together. So if we just keep feeding them curricula at school, it’s gonna be no good. We have to start a separate kind of programme where they can do projects to make UAE better, to make Sharjah better, to make the world better. Kids can do that now and herein lies an important role for media to play to promote the fact that we do need a better education system in the world."