Foreword

The OECD’s Reinforcing Democracy Initiative (RDI), endorsed by Ministers at the OECD Ministerial Meeting on Building Trust and Reinforcing Democracy in November 2022, emphasises the importance of strengthening the integrity of the “information ecosystem” as public discourse, the media, and political rhetoric have grown increasingly fragmented and polarised in many democracies. “Fringe” views are amplified over moderate ones by social media algorithms. Along with mis- and disinformation, these views pollute the public sphere in which democratic societies form opinions and debate policy questions.

Public communication can help mitigate these threats. It can also expand opportunities for constructive dialogue with citizens and facilitate citizens’ participation in public life. The OECD is looking at how public communication can be reformed and used more strategically to support good governance, open government objectives, sound policy making, and effective service design and delivery. Communication professionals are key in helping governments better engage and interact in increasingly connected societies.

This Public Communication Scan of the United Kingdom is the first of its kind for an OECD Member country. It outlines how public communication can contribute to better policies and services, greater citizen trust and, ultimately, stronger democracies. This Scan builds on the 2021 OECD report, Public Communication: The Global Context and the Way Forward. It provides an international overview of this function across 46 countries and 63 institutions.

The UK’s Government Communication Service (GCS) has invested considerably in building a modern and capable public communication function that has earned international recognition. It has now embarked on an ambitious reform strategy to develop a communication function that can withstand the challenges of a rapidly evolving information ecosystem while harnessing technological change to support its objectives. In doing so, the GCS is working to make communication “one of the four main levers government has to effect change, alongside legislation, regulation and taxation”.

The analysis and recommendations in this Scan highlight opportunities for GCS and the UK Government to align reform priorities with a more inclusive and people-centred communication that contributes to stronger democratic governance. At a time when parts of the population are feeling left behind, these reforms will help build better dialogue between government and citizens. Giving more policy prominence to citizen-centred public communication is an important step in promoting greater openness and engagement, and building trust.

With many countries facing similar challenges, the Scan’s findings are relevant for all governments reflecting on public communication as a core instrument for democracy.