The role of media literacy in the relationship between Public Administration and citizens
The UNESCO Chair of Communication, Media and Information Literacy and Citizenship, from the School of Communication and Media Studies (ESCS-IPL), took part on March 13 in the “UNESCO Chairs in Conversation” meetings, organized by INA – National Institute of Administration, within the framework of its UNESCO Chair in Education for the Development in Public Administration: Participation, Innovation and Capacity Building.
The initiative took place from March 11 to 13 and brought together different UNESCO Chairs with the aim of fostering dialogue, sharing experiences, and collaboration around practices in Public Administration.
Representing the ESCS UNESCO Chair was Fernanda Bonacho, holder of the Chair, professor at ESCS, and researcher at LIACOM, in a session focused on the challenges of public communication in the digital age. Central topics included disinformation, institutional communication, the need to strengthen trust in public institutions, and the importance of media literacy in the relationship between Public Administration and citizens, in a context marked by the speed and decentralization of information.
The discussions were held at INA’s facilities, with an in-person audience, creating an environment for the exchange of ideas. The sessions were recorded and will be made available as podcast episodes on the INAcast platform.
Luísa Neto (president of the Board of Directors of INA), Rita Soares (moderator), and Fernanda Bonacho (ESCS professor and holder of the UNESCO Chair of Communication, Media and Information Literacy and Citizenship).
After the event, Fernanda Bonacho emphasized that the initiative was “an inspiring space for reflection, collaboration, and active public participation, where very relevant and challenging questions were raised.”
This meeting opens the door to the development of future partnerships and joint projects, strengthening cooperation between chairs and institutions and deepening dialogue around public communication and media literacy.
