Bonjour à tous! - Welcome to #Brussels and the @NATO Communications Conference at the Palais d’Egmont. Stay tuned for live updates #NATOcomms #WeAreNATO🇬🇧🇧🇪 
Ambassador’s Reception - Turkish diplomat Tacan Ildem @NATOildemT opens #NATOcomms conference in #Brussels held at the not-too-shabby Palais d’Egmont in central #Brussels #WeAreNATO🇹🇷
Dr @vtcherneva of European Council of Foreign Relations: “@NATO unique organisation with soft and hard power. Lately military machine working well but political side less aligned. Makes harder the task of marrying comms & diplomacy” #NATOcomms
US @AmbJohnKoenig tells #NATOcomms conference: “Sense young generation represented by @GretaThunberg are fearful. @NATO needs to find way that utilises sense of grievance people have, and direct this towards those who threaten their freedoms”
Dr Hanns Maull from German think tank @SWPBerlin tells #NATOcomms conference: “On concerns that others ‘fearing’ us means appearing aggressive, we must show we’re prepared to defend our values robustly.”
‘Brand consultant’ Jacob Benbunan: “Branding @NATO is big challenge because perception is so different from reality. But great opportunity exists to promote the organisation as an agent for peace” #NATOcomms
Dr @PawelSurowiec of Sheffield University: “We’re all proud of @NATO and that’s reflected in public diplomacy, but (Alliance) would be more emotionally engaging if it were more personifiable” #NATOcomms
The next panel session at #NATOcomms conference in #Brussels covers “Disinformation, propaganda & hybrid challenges”, and features @NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu, Dr @alice_ekman of EU Institute for Security Studies & Captain Wendy Snyder of @US_EUCOM #WeAreNATO
“Need to be careful that what we say isn’t used as leverage against us” - @NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu on ‘disinformation’ at #NATOcomms conference in #Brussels
NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu admits Alliance faces “more and more fake stories about how @NATO exercises harm the environment”, designed to resonate with younger audiences #NATOcomms
“Best way to counter disinformation is to be first out there with truthful, timely information” - Captain Wendy Snyder of @US_EUCOM tells #NATOcomms conference
Dr @alice_ekman of EU Institute for Security Studies tells #NATOcomms conference that Chinese approach to propaganda different to Russian. China has longer-term strategy & “more preoccupied with its international image”
Last up today at #NATOcomms conference is session on “Putting the audience first”
Tina Zournatzi of @EU_Commission on their revised approach to corporate comms: “Look at ‘whole’ organisation, not just individual policies, and engage with citizens via channels they use” #NATOcomms
“Don’t obsess about trust, obsess about competence” - Ben Page, CEO @IpsosMORI pollsters, on lessons for #NATOcomms
Good morning and welcome to day 2 of #NATOcomms conference from beautiful Palais d’Egmont in central #Brussels #WeAreNATO🇧🇪
“In order to prevail, we need to communicate better. If we’re sincere in ourselves, it’s time to be self confident in our values and pivot back in an offensive mode” - @NATO Deputy Scecretary General @Mircea_Geoana #NATOcomms #WeAreNATO🇷🇴
Professor Ruben Zaiotti @JMChairDal on ‘digital diplomacy’: “Difficult for international organisations (such as @NATO) to express their own voice and reach desired audiences, as need to speak for all member states - and behave in international system” #NATOcomms
“Working with social media influencers is challenging. Better to find people with reach within the organisation and already aligned with its values” @jimrosenberg of @Accion tells #NATOcomms conference
“In 21st century extremists understand why culture matters. But protecting culture strengthens society and improves resilience” - Professor Cynthia Schneider @schneidercp on role of ‘cultural diplomacy’ #NATOcomms
At closing session of #NATOcomms conference, Professor @JanMDiplo calls for greater empowerment of @NATO staff to act as digital ambassadors for the Alliance. And the need to engage with illusive ‘younger generation’
And that's all, Folks! - The #NATOcomms conference at Palais d’Egmont in #Brussels has come to a close. Next stop: the slightly less glamorous Imjin Barracks #Gloucester... #WeAreNATO🇬🇧🇧🇪
