Governments communicate today in conditions that are fundamentally different from those that shaped public information even a few years ago. Digital disruption, shifting audience behaviour and the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming how people access, interpret and trust information. Institutions must now operate in fragmented environments, with new intermediaries and algorithm-driven feeds. These change not only how governments reach people, but also how citizens understand policies, form opinions, and participate in public life.
These shifts in communication sit within a wider governance challenge. Governments are navigating rapid change and disruption while grappling with low levels of trust, driven in large part by citizens’ perceptions that they lack voice in decision making and little confidence in governments’ ability to tackle complex, long-term policy challenges. There is a sense that governments are “stuck”, asked to deliver on urgent priorities while constrained by external and internal barriers to change.
Getting communication right is part of getting government “unstuck”. People form judgements about government competence and fairness from what they see and experience, and trust is reinforced when institutions translate priorities into outcomes while giving people a voice in shaping change. Policy delivery also depends on people’s understanding, behaviour, and acceptability. When constructive public debate is undermined by a fragmented and divisive information space, the risks to delivery rise even if policy design is sound. Trustworthy information and public communication, grounded in evidence and responsive to people’s realities, are therefore essential enablers of policy success and core to democratic governance.
Done well, public communication is evolving as a strategic enabler of more open, participatory and citizen-centred governance, supporting transparency, engagement and trust. It offers structured opportunities to listen, engage, and involve citizens. But effective communication requires significant efforts and investments to rise to the challenge of the present information ecosystem. It also requires the right leadership, capability and culture in the public service to connect political will, technological enablers, and meaningful public participation.
Five years after the OECD first surveyed its Members on their communication functions, this report draws on the 2025 Survey of Government Communicators and comparative country experiences to show how systems have changed in this relatively short timeframe. It takes stock of where public communication stands and what it will take for governments to adapt to today’s challenges.