by Dejan Verčič,
University of Ljubljana and Herman & partners

28th annual BledCom conference was held on 2-3 July for the second year online. It was focused on the role of communication and public relations in risk and crisis communication in the context of corona pandemic. It started with presentations of the two important initiatives. Prof Ángeles Moreno, the President of EUPRERA, presented the Statement on Communication of Covid-19 Pandemic ”Communication Saves Lives” and Prof Solange Tremblay, the President of INTERDECOM, presented the International Declaration of Communication Professionals and Researchers for a Healthier, Viable, Better World.

2021 BledCom online conference attracted over 250 participants from 47 countries on 6 continents. Presentations were organised in 14 paper sessions and 6 panels on Risk/Crisis Communication research related to COVID-19 in Asia , Future of Communications and Public Relations (PR, Public response to Covid-19 communications from government, business and media, Public Relations and Media Research in Eastern & Central Europe, How Public Relations Contributed to Fighting the Pandemic, and Intermediate organizations representativity today – Caught between the impact of pre COVID-19 disintermediation processes, and current mixed and uncertain signs of re- or neo- intermediation.

BledCom 2022

The 29th BledCom conference is planned live in Rikli Balance Hotel, Lake Bled, Slovenia, on 1-2 July 2022. The theme is Reboot: Should Organizations Rediscover Communication with Internal & External Stakeholders? Call for paters is available here: https://www.bledcom.com/call-for-papers