Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council (SMC)

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council (SMC), has announced that the 10th edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF) will be held on September 26 – 27 under the theme, ‘Historic lessons, Future ambitions’ at Expo Centre Sharjah.

The two-day event, organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), aims to evaluate the historical experience of government communication, discuss its current realities, and envision its future, in addition to reviewing mechanisms, tools, and changes in public perceptions.

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Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi stressed that the goal of the 10th edition of IGCF was to boost the readiness of government communication teams regionally and globally to be future-ready for challenges resulting from unpredictable global scenarios and conditions. The SMC Chairman also noted that the theme for this milestone edition of IGCF is a testament to the forum’s continued success in strengthening the foundations and principles of government communication in the UAE and the region. It also marks the start of a new journey for Sharjah and the UAE in which we take a step forward towards the future of global government communications, he said. 

 A file photo of last year's International Government Communication Forum (2020).

He added: “The upcoming forum comes close on the heels of a global healthcare crisis that has underlined the importance of effective government communication. Since early last year, the world has witnessed abrupt transformations that call for the setting up of newer and more flexible communication models, both in terms of tools and response mechanisms. The unfolding crisis also raised several questions on the impact of the existing communications system on government bodies, semi-governmental entities, and international community organisations. We must address how the current realities and past experiences can be utilised to forecast and build the future of government communications, and to prepare relevant stakeholders to keep pace with regional and global transformations.”

Seven key pillars to define IGCF 2021 debates

This edition of IGCF will focus on seven main pillars. The first pillar aims to review the historical experience of government communications including in times of crises, discuss current realities and envision the future of the sector. The second pillar will deliberate on the necessity of establishing transformation-ready mechanisms in these rapidly changing times to create a sustainable future and achieve societal aspirations.

Under its third pillar, IGCF 2021 will analyse government communication responses towards crises and devise scientific strategies that lay the foundation for effective communication mechanisms, while the fourth pillar focuses on the relationship between content creators and social media platforms, and raises questions about the biggest beneficiary of this relationship. It will also discuss the content creation process and to what extent traditional media can stay powerful and effective within global mass communication media.

The forum will also examine the future of government communication, its approaches as a scientific field, methodologies, and how it can keep playing its role effectively in light of the ‘infodemic’ and the ongoing challenges. The pillars will discuss the role of the storytelling technique in bolstering government communication messages as a tool to enhance the volume and effectiveness of public responses.

Furthermore, the pillars will examine the strategies of government communication teams and their impact on communities’ mindset. The final key question that will be addressed at the event is about the academic disciplines needed to use big data to study audience behaviour, patterns, and psychological responses.