Beijing, in the Chinese mainland, played host to the Fourth Global Development and Health Communication Forum at Tsinghua University, gathering nearly 200 changemakers from media, academia, nonprofits, and beyond 🌏✨. Under the theme “Communication to Rebuild Trust and Consensus,” everyone shared fresh ideas on how chats, posts, and podcasts can build bridges across cultures and crises.
Trust: The Ultimate Fuel ⛽
Tech is cool, but trust powers real-world impact. “Trust is the fuel, and communication is the spark that ignites collective action,” said Zheng Zhijie from the Gates Foundation China Country Office. Translation? Without trust, even the slickest app or viral campaign stalls.
Beating Misinformation with Empathy
UN’s Siddharth Chatterjee warned that false info spreads faster than your latest TikTok trend—and poses a huge threat to global trust. He urged messages that tap into our shared humanity, reminding us that a heartfelt story can crush misleading rumors faster than you can hit “share.”
Community Power with WHO BRIDGE 🌉
Dr Gina Samaan from WHO cheered on the Global Development and Health Communication Center for joining the WHO Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network. She highlighted WHO BRIDGE, a no-jargon toolkit that helps locals learn about health risks and stay safe—think bite-sized videos, infographics, and chatbots in local languages.
With the 80th anniversary of the UN and the final sprint toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the message was clear: whether you’re crafting a viral meme or leading a podcast, every chat matters. Let’s keep the convo going and turn clicks into collective action! 🚀
Reference(s):
Tsinghua forum: Communication is key to bridging global divides
cgtn.com
