If you would have told me a year ago I would have traveled to Europe on four separate times, I would have been like – what?!!
That is exactly what has happened to me this year. One of the trips I added to cap off a tremendous year was to head to Istanbul for the StratCom Summit. When I got the invitation to speak at the event, I was truly honored with the opportunity to be part of this global event.
I would have to say professional events such as StratCom Summit are *quite* different from academic conferences (in a really good way!). The overall dynamic conference environment, speaker set up, and presentation of the speakers was some of the best I have seen in my time as a professor.
I was part of a panel focused on strategic communication and conflict management, and we had representation across different countries, including Tunisia, Turkey, Pakistan, Georgia, and of course the USA (me!). The panel discussion was very engaging – we were able to all share our perspectives on what we think was going on in the industry from a global scale, but also where we see strategic communication in the future. The hour dedicated to the panel session went extremely fast – this happens when you are having fun!
I was able to share some takeaways from the experience as a whole:
- Our industry is facing a lot of challenges. There were many common themes that emerged from the conference about addressing the growing issues of misinformation, fake news, digital warfare, polarization, and others. This was something that was not impacting one country – but everyone.
- We have to have a balanced perspective on the role social media plays in our world. I’ve had people tell me over the years they assume I think social media is positive 100% completely. I have always stated that it is key to have a balanced perspective – meaning that social media can bring into the conversation a lot of good, but also some real challenges. At the StratCom Summit, there was a lot of discussion related to the challenges – which is important to note! We may not solve all of the issues and problems emerging in the world, but we have to come together and see there is hope on the horizon. This was a parting comment I made on the panel I was on – I felt with the upcoming generation of professionals, they may be able to help address some of these challenges with solutions.
- Academics need to really be part of the conversation. Many of the attendees and speakers talked about the need to work with academia and researchers to address some of these challenges. This was great to hear – but what is important to note here is that our research and work needs to have impact in the industry. Sure, publications and peer reviewed articles are great for tenure – but we need to be more active in the industry outside of our specialized areas. What I mean is simply – I know in the PR and COMM spaces, there is a trend to stay only in the designated conferences, organizations, and areas. We need to branch out more beyond our established organizations.
- Speaking of academic conferences – you all need to step up ASAP. I’ve not been shy at all with my criticism of some conferences like AEJ. They have some serious work to do to be able to compete with events such as StratCom Summit. There is no comparison on the value, connections, relationships, and professional and personal takeaways I was able to get in Istanbul compared to conferences like AEJ.
- The importance of presenting internationally to bring about great opportunities. This was a personal reflection on my part. I have always been a believer of great international experiences, and I had my first international presentation in China back in 2008, when I just finished my first year in the PhD program at Tennessee. I have made an effort to travel, speak, and work abroad every chance I could get. This experience in Turkey really was extraordinary – the team at the conference made me feel welcomed, appreciated, and special – I mean, I was shown on this massive screen at the event. How cool is that?!!!
I would like to thank everyone who was part of the StratCom Summit team. It was truly an honor to be a part of this great event and I look forward to what 2023 has in store.
Have a great day!
Best Wishes,
