This report by the JRC provides evidence-based insights and recommendations on how public communicators can strengthen the future of democracies by navigating (new) information ecosystems in ways that earn the trust and confidence of citizens. At a time when trust in government is increasingly recognised as important to democracy, the report aims to support institutions in tackling the societal challenges in communication faced around the globe. The report combines state-of-the-art scientific knowledge and insights from experts, new empirical research on the moralisation of policies and values-targeted communication strategies, and input from citizens on this topic to provide practical guidance to policymakers and institutional communications professionals.

Citation: Smillie, L. and Scharfbillig, M., Trustworthy Public Communications, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2024, doi:10.2760/695605, JRC137725.