"It's a dream come true." Professor Michele Gelfand FBA, elected as a new International Fellow of the British Academy, reflects on what the Fellowship means to her and the opportunities she's excited to explore with the Academy.

“We should create a common vision for a vibrant public media that can steer public discourse and democratic debate through new public and pro-social and digital infrastructure.” Catherine Tait, Expert in Residence at New Public, speaking at our conference on the future of public service media.

Following the report's publication, Professor Georgina Born FBA highlights international evidence on public service media funding and governance and the BBC's wider public value in a letter to the Telegraph:

We are pleased to see research from our Fellows cited in the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's report on the future funding and governance of the BBC. The Committee's conclusions reflect key themes from research led by Professors Georgina Born FBA and Justin Lewis FBA, including:

4. Crises do not have a clear ‘end’ point - ignoring this can make recovery harder for the most impacted communities. Recovery planning from crises should be a long-term process which accounts for the lasting and unequal impacts on vulnerable communities which are often overlooked.

3. Government crisis messaging can be more effective through community-embedded approaches and trusted local actors. Relying solely on centralised government messaging may be less effective as trust in institutions declines and misinformation is easily spread online.

2. Governments should move beyond the framing of simply “following the science”. Instead, they should acknowledge to the public that decision-making during crises is complex, and should be informed by a broader range of expertise including from the humanities and social sciences.

1. Enhancing the UK’s readiness for major threats requires empowering all parts of society to improve their preparedness. This will involve strengthening community understanding of emergency preparedness and creating national and sector-specific strategies that support localised flexibility.

The long-term economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic still influence some of the biggest issues facing the UK today. Our latest report examines these ongoing impacts and sets out lessons for how government prepares for, responds to, and promotes recovery from future emergencies. 🧵