From 11 to 14 September 2023, the NATO Communicators Conference #NCC23Paris brought together experts, communicators, strategists, academia and industry in the communications disciplines of Strategic Communications, Military Public Affairs, Psychological Operations, and Information Operations from across the Alliance to discuss and deliberate on the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in the field of communication.
Organized by Allied Command Transformation and Allied Command Operations, serves as a pivotal platform for sharing knowledge and forging partnerships among professionals committed to strengthening NATO's communication capabilities. The JALLC was represented at this event by its Public Affairs Officer and Strategic Communications (StratCom) Advisor, LTC Sonia Guerra Vicente (PRT, F), contributing insights, and expertise while gaining valuable knowledge to enhance the JALLC’s role in support of NATO's mission.
The first day of the conference was dedicated to the Military Public Affairs Working Group, where experts and communicators converged to discuss the vital role of public affairs in NATO's defensive strategy. This session emphasized the importance of transparent and timely communication in informing the public and stakeholders while enhancing the credibility and resilience of NATO as a security organization.
On the second day, the focus shifted to the StratCom Working Group, highlighting the critical role of strategic communication in NATO's defence. In an era where information flows at an unprecedented rate, effective StratCom is key to countering disinformation, hybrid threats, and complex security challenges.
Throughout the conference, discussions centred on building and safeguarding NATO's collective resilience against cognitive threats. As a defensive Alliance, NATO recognizes the importance of countering disinformation, misinformation, and hybrid threats that can erode trust and create vulnerabilities within member nations. This resilience is key to maintaining the security and cohesion of the Alliance.
In addition to discussions on collective resilience and StratCom, the conference featured insights from representatives of the Ukrainian Armed Forces StratCom and the National Defence University. They discussed their approach to strategic communication, particularly in the context of Ukraine's defence. The importance of strategic communication in defending Ukraine and its people was underscored, highlighting the critical role it plays in countering disinformation and ensuring public trust.
The participation of the JALLC members in the NATO Communicators Conference, especially in the Military Public Affairs Working Group and the StratCom Working Group, emphasizing the JALLC’s commitment to enhancing NATO's communication efforts. The experience gained from this conference will undoubtedly inform the JALLC's future efforts in communicating about how the JALLC facilitates continuous improvement across NATO's operational spectrum.
More about the conference here https://www.act.nato.int/article/act-hosts-ncc23/