Framing Truth: A Public Policy Communication Strategy for Digital Misinformation

Presentation

Good [morning/afternoon/evening], everyone. Today, I will be presenting a public policy communication strategy focused on combating misinformation, a challenge that has grown in complexity as technological advancements expand our digital landscape. This policy seeks to cultivate a robust information ecosystem that fosters trust, promotes open discourse, and ultimately protects democratic participation.

What is the public policy that you are communicating? Explain.

To begin, let me explain the public policy I am communicating. The foundation of this policy aims to mitigate the fast pace at which misinformation is spreading by creating an evidence-based public communications framework. As social media in particular has spurred widespread and rapidly shared misinformation, the policy underscores the importance of three main pillars improving digital literacy in the broader public, empowering professionals in media and communication with adequate training and resources and developing evaluation frameworks that monitor the effects of public messages on service uptake and public opinion. The rationale behind the policy is based on the belief that communication is not only a tool for disseminating information but also a mechanism for listening to citizens by facilitating a two-way dialogue, which can promote civic participation and enhance democratic institutions (Hupe, 2021).

Who is the target audience for your public policy? Explain.

Now, let’s discuss the target audience for this policy. The main target audience is well-defined. First, it covers the general population,  particularly citizens who access digital content and can be easily misled by false information. This audience is diverse in their socio-economic demographics and digital skills, so our messaging needs to be both accessible and engaging. Second, the strategy targets policy influencers such as journalists, community leaders, and educators. As purveyors of accurate information and gatekeepers of public outreach efforts, these stakeholders are the key to upholding the credibility of such information. Third, the policy is also aimed at internal stakeholders within government communication professionals, policy-makers and digital strategy teams. Evidence from the OECD Report shows that the concordance between public communications and policy teams is not strong, and our strategy tackles this by advocating for greater integration and professionalisation of the communications function. Through outreach in these three layers, the strategy aims to educate and also inspire members of society to become active agents in the fight against misinformation (OECD, 2024).

How would you frame your selected public policy for your target audience and why?

The next element in my strategy is framing. Framing matters because one of the most important things in determining how people understand an issue is the way in which that issue is framed. Within this context, I leverage a narrative framing approach in the tradition of Schön and Rein and insights from across the broader frame analysis literature. The frame that was chosen for this policy is “resilience through informed participation.” This narrative reinforces that a well-informed public is not only better prepared to distinguish truth from falsehood but is also vitally necessary for a healthy, functioning democracy to thrive. I chose this as a frame because it speaks to a rational audience as well as an emotional one. It resonates with citizens’ need for trusted information while also suggesting a sense of empowerment and shared responsibility (FrameWorks Institute, 2024).

In framing our policy, to build our knowledge, we have been informed by some of the main audience insights derived from behavioural and cognitive research. For example, given that misinformation disproportionately affects underrepresented or disengaged communities, the messaging is intentionally designed to be inclusive. This means steering away from jargon and making sure that language is clear,  relatable and widely accessible. By doing so, we engage narrative strategies that can resonate with people and communities, providing people with a narrative hook that allows them to see themselves in the story. One way this strategy aligns with our Week 2 readings is how they bring into discussion the democratization of the public sphere as well as the necessity for inclusive communication frameworks. In addition, framing our policy as a partnership between the government and the citizenry creates an environment of trust and accountability a key selling point in times of vast mistrust of traditional institutions.

Which public policy communication strategy did you adopt to develop your communication strategy? Explain

Developing these policy communication strategies is the final part of my presentation, which concentrates on the communication strategy adopted. As such, I have utilized an evidence-based, integrated communication strategy through the integration of digital and traditional media channels. First, based on the OECD Report’s highlighting of the importance of evidence-based public communication, the strategy encompasses comprehensive audience research and behavioural insight analysis. This means that we offer messages that are not only relevant but also evidence-based. These analytical approaches - data-driven methodologies like sentiment analysis and service uptake metrics will be used to assess the performance of our communication activities on an ongoing basis, allowing for real-time adjustments to be made to messaging (University of Oxford, 2022).

Second, the strategy leverages digital platforms by embracing a “digital by design” strategy, an idea we discussed in Week 4. This approach involves meeting citizens where they are, like on social media, online forums, and mobile applications. Digital platforms are not only used to disseminate messages but also to encourage interactive dialogues. Through live Q&A sessions and virtual town halls, the government can directly respond to the concerns of civilians, reducing the gap between policymaking and public participation. Moreover, social media are great channels for quickly responding to detected misinformation and delivering accurate information.

Third, I´ve established a multi-stakeholder governance model enabling agile and responsive communication strategy towards the different publics of the organization. This means building a team of policy-makers, communication experts, digital strategists, and external advisors like academic researchers and media professionals. It also aligns with the OECD Report’s recommendations around the need to bring together the different arms of government and public institutions. This mirrors the principles of policy framing we explored in our readings in Week 3, in which the interplay between frame-makers and the policy process is of critical importance in communicating effectively in a politically responsive way that drives strategic outcomes.

In addition, the strategy provides for training and capacity-building for public officials and community leaders. The policy empowers these groups with the tools to identify misinformation, counter it, and then share that information, creating a culture in which information integrity is everyone’s business. These will include workshops, webinars, and collaborative forums to share best practices in the areas of digital communication, narrative framing, and crisis communication. These initiatives serve to not only build capacity but also expand the network of trusted communicators, which is so important in a time where misinformation can quickly erode confidence in public institutions.

Thank you for your attention. I look forward to engaging with you further on how we can collectively enhance our public communication practices to better serve our society.

Summary of Assessment Requirements

This assessment requires students to develop a clear and well-structured public policy communication strategy addressing a contemporary challenge—in this case, the spread of misinformation. The task involves explaining the policy, identifying its target audience, selecting an appropriate framing approach, and outlining the communication strategies used to deliver the policy effectively. Students must demonstrate understanding of policy communication frameworks, narrative framing, stakeholder engagement, and evidence-based communication methods. Key pointers expected in the assessment include:

• Explaining the chosen public policy and its rationale.

• Identifying and analysing the target audience, including internal and external stakeholders.

• Describing the framing strategy used to present the policy and explaining why this frame is appropriate.

• Applying a public policy communication strategy, supported by academic literature and weekly course readings.

• Demonstrating how digital communication, behavioural insights, and multi-stakeholder governance inform the strategy.

• Showing alignment with contemporary communication principles, including transparency, inclusivity, community engagement, and evidence-based practice.

Students are assessed on clarity, theoretical application, coherence of communication strategy, use of scholarly evidence, and alignment with course concepts.

How the Academic Mentor Guided the Student 

Step 1: Understanding the Policy Context

The mentor first helped the student clearly identify the core public policy focus—combating misinformation—and guided them to articulate why this is a critical public communication challenge. The student was supported to link the issue to democratic participation, digital transformation, and public trust.

Step 2: Structuring the Explanation of the Policy

Next, the mentor walked the student through how to break down the foundational elements of the policy. This included:

• Establishing the purpose of the policy

• Including the three pillars: digital literacy, professional communication capacity, and evaluation frameworks

• Explaining the rationale using scholarly sources such as Hupe (2021)

This ensured the student demonstrated conceptual clarity and grounded their argument in theory.

Step 3: Identifying the Target Audience

The mentor assisted the student in mapping the audience into three categories—general public, policy influencers, and internal government stakeholders. The mentor explained how to justify each group using evidence from the OECD report, ensuring the student showed an understanding of the practical relevance of audience segmentation.

Step 4: Choosing an Appropriate Framing Strategy

The mentor then guided the student through the principles of policy framing, helping them select the narrative “resilience through informed participation.” The mentor encouraged the student to:

• Justify the frame theoretically using Schön & Rein

• Demonstrate its emotional and rational appeal

• Link the frame to Week 2 course themes on inclusive communication

• Include behavioural insights to show depth of analysis

This ensured the student aligned their work with scholarly frameworks.

Step 5: Developing the Communication Strategy

The mentor supported the student in integrating course concepts into the strategy. This included:

• Using evidence-based communication principles

• Emphasising “digital by design” strategies from Week 4

• Discussing audience research, behavioural analytics, and real-time evaluation

• Highlighting multi-stakeholder governance

• Including training and capacity building

The mentor ensured the student demonstrated how these elements collectively strengthen public trust and counter misinformation.

Step 6: Ensuring Academic Integration and Coherence

To complete the assessment, the mentor helped the student:

• Connect the strategy to literature and weekly readings

• Ensure arguments were evidence-based

• Maintain clarity, coherence, and academic tone

• Conclude with forward-looking reflections

This step made sure the assessment met academic writing and referencing standards.

Outcome and Learning Objectives Achieved

By following this structured mentoring approach, the student was able to produce a clear, comprehensive, and theoretically grounded communication strategy. The final response successfully met the assessment requirements and demonstrated achievement of key learning objectives, including:

• Understanding of contemporary public policy communication frameworks

• Ability to identify and analyse diverse audiences

• Application of narrative framing theories

• Integration of digital communication and behavioural insights

• Use of evidence-based strategies to combat misinformation

• Engagement with scholarly literature and weekly readings

• Development of clear, persuasive, and academically appropriate communication

Overall, the student gained practical skills in designing effective public communication strategies and applying theoretical knowledge to real-world policy challenges.

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