Communication experts, press officers, journalists, and researchers will meet on November 17th, at 2 pm, at the University of Minho, to participate in the “Pandemic and Communication” Conference.

The importance of Strategic Communication, the professional practices of journalists during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the roles played by the media in the management of the pandemic crisis are some of the subjects that will be discussed.

The 1st day’s theme will be “Pandemics and Communication – Press Officer’s View” and will include the participation of people in charge of Communication for health authorities, public and private hospitals, laboratories, and professional associations.

The program of this inaugural day includes two round tables. Dedicated to the Communication of the pandemic in public institutions, the first round table will have as speakers Diana Mendes, head of the Communication Division of the Directorate-General of Health (DGS), and Rui Neves Moreira, press officer of the University Hospital Centre of São João (CHUSJ). Felisbela Lopes, a researcher at CECS/University of Minho, will moderate the session, and Catherine Pereira, communication officer at the Hospital of Braga, will comment.

In the second roundtable starting at 4 pm, Tiago Durães, Marketing and Communication manager at Lusíadas Saúde, and Carla Reis Costa, Communication manager at Unilabs, will intervene. Rita Araújo, a researcher at CECS/University of Minho, will moderate this session, which will have a “critical reading” by Romana Borja-Santos, communication officer to the President of the Portuguese Medical Association.

The initiative is from a group of researchers from CINTESIS/Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, CECS/Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Minho, CEIS20/Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Coimbra, and CECC/Faculty of Human Sciences of the Portuguese Catholic University.

Over the last few months, this research group has developed several studies that show the emergence of journalism that guides behavior, with greater attention given to health literacy promotion and an “increased care for ethical issues.”

According to a study by researchers from CECS/University of Minho and CINTESIS, journalism has proven to be “a weapon” in the fight against the pandemic.

The “Pandemic and Communication” Conference will continue throughout 2022, with three more initiatives in different locations. On January 26th, CINTESIS/Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto will host the 2nd Conference, entitled “Pandemic and Communication – The Journalists’ View“.

“Pandemic and Communication – The Researchers’ View” will be the theme of the 3rd Conference, scheduled for February 16th, at CEIS20/Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Coimbra.

The 4th Conference, entitled “Pandemic and Communication – The Decision Makers’ View“, will take place on March 11th, at CECC/Faculty of Human Sciences of the Portuguese Catholic University (Lisbon).

The Organizing Committee includes Felisbela Lopes and Rita Araújo (CECS/University of Minho), Olga Estrela Magalhães (CINTESIS/Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto), Clara Almeida Santos and Ana Teresa Peixinho (CEIS20/Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Coimbra) and Catarina Duff Burnay (CECC/Faculty of Humanities of the Portuguese Catholic University).

Registration is online, by filling out the form available here.