The course aims to:

- make known the peculiarities and the strategic role that institutional public communication plays today, in the broader process of open government;

- to identify the areas of greatest relevance for research in this specific field of studies on cultural and communicative processes;

- to  analyse the approaches and research tools that have been adopted so far and that could be adopted in the future to analyze the communication practices relating to the relationship between institutions and citizens in the connected society.

The course addresses the following topics:

- The strategic role that communication plays in the public sector between scholars from different countries and disciplines. In a profoundly changed socio-communicative context, public administrations feel the urgency of building a new relationship with citizens, in order to gain their trust (Bessières 2018; Canel & Luoma-aho 2019; Chadwick, 2013; Faccioli 2016; Ducci 2017; Lovari 2017; Lovari-Ducci 2022). Keeping this scenario in mind, during the lessons we will address the characteristics and models that institutional public communication has assumed in the past and assumes today in the digital transformation process affecting the PA.

In particular, specific attention will be paid to:

- the challenges for public communication linked to open government (Ducci, Materassi, Solito 2020; Lovari, Bowen, D'Ambrosi 2020), the growth of participatory cultures and the widespread use of social media among connected citizens (Bartoletti and Faccioli 2016; Boccia Artieri et al. 2018; Dalghren 2009; Jenkins et al. 2013) to the ongoing digital transition process and the use of AI solutions;

- public crisis and emergency communication (as well as data communication),

- inclusive and gender sensitive public communication.

These and other aspects will be discussed during the lessons, making reference to recent studies, as well as ongoing research.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Lectures with illustration of recent research works.
The course involves carrying out an exercise (individual and/or group work).

Innovative teaching methods

Attendance

Participation in lessons and group or individual work

Course books

Canel J.M., Luoma-aho V. (2019), Public sector communication, Wiley Blackwell.

Other scientific contributions in Italian and English will be indicated during the course on the blended platform.

Assessment

The assessment takes place during the lessons through the presentation of the research work carried out during the classroom exercise.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.