Government Communication Network
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This article is part of the Propaganda Portal project of Spinwatch. |
The Government Communication Network (GCN) is the British government's central public relations organisation servicing most government departments in the United Kingdom. At present, there are around 4,000 communicators registered with the GCN website.[1]
The GCN is the new name for the Government Information and Communication Service which was dissolved following the Phillis Report in 2004.[2] The Report was supposed to investigate the Blair administration's spin machine and to herald an end to spin. In fact the result has been that spin has been entrenched, old restraints on private sector spin techniques have been abolished and government has been opened up to private sector PR consultancies.
The GCN became the Government Communication Service following an announcement in late 2013.[3]
Following the priorities set out in the Communications plan for 2013 to 2014, the 11 point plan for reform of the GICS to create the GCN includes:
- creating a new Government Communication Service
- mandatory evaluation to track effectiveness and justify value for money
- aligning departmental communications strategies with government priorities
- revising and improving communications spending controls
- improving governance through a new Government Communication Board
- creating group communication structures to align work of departments and their major arms-length bodies
- improving cross-government internal communications
- improving regional communication services
- enhancing existing communications hubs to improve joint working between departments
- providing additional central resource to support departments
- integrating social media and digital channels within all communications functions, including the press office [3]
External links
- Internet Archive comms.gov.uk
- Internet Archive gcn.civilservice.gov.uk
References
- ↑ Cabinet Office, "Government Communication Network", http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/government%5Fcommunication/gcn/index.asp
- ↑ Cabinet Office, "New Communications Network for Government", http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/news_releases/2005/050120_govcomm.asp?ID=57
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cabinet Office and The Rt Hon Lord Maude of Horsham New central government communication service to save money and raise standards: Plans to improve standards and evaluate effectiveness of government communication were unveiled today. Published 15 October 2013.
