A policy briefing based on key insights from the PANCOPOP project was published in the UK Academy of Social Sciences policy briefings series. Entitled “Crisis communication in times of political instability and misinformation” the briefing summarizes the key findings of the project, the key challenges for crisis communication generated by populist leadership in the four countries examined by the project: excessive politicization of science, infringements on media freedom and lack of consistent counter-misinformation policies, and reinforcement of populist that undermined trust in experts and weakness resilience to misinformation. The briefing also outlines the relevant policy context and offers five key recommendations for crisis communication, including maintaining the autonomy and transparency of specialized agencies and the integrity of the scientific process; anticipating political contestation regarding public health when revising guidance for public emergencies, avoiding purely top-down styles of communication when developing preventive measures, nurturing cooperative relationships with media organisations, and developing and implementing an integrated strategy for combatting misinformation both online and offline.
The briefing series, launched by the Academy’s International Advisory Group in June 2024, was established with the aim to bring an international angle to the Academy’s policy interventions. Contributions to the series are based on international research collaborations that leverage interdisciplinary research to seek solutions to pressing challenges faced by contemporary societies. Contributors document their experiences of collaborating across countries to seek interdisciplinary solutions to complex challenges facing society, ranging from green issues, health, the digital transformation and population change.