Washington, DC, 14 December 2022 – Following her visit to the United States Capitol with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on 13 December, Under Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming remained in Washington today to meet with additional interlocutors.
At the Department of State, she exchanged views with Amb. Michele J. Sison, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs. She also met with Elizabeth Cousens, President and CEO of the United Nations Foundation. Topics that arose in those meetings included key trends in public opinion, the United Nations’ efforts to fight mis- and disinformation and the future of social media.
In a separate meeting with Lee Rainie, Director of Internet and Technology Research at the Pew Research Center, she discussed growing public concerns about disinformation and declining trust. Following that encounter, she said, “Nonpartisan research and analysis guide our UN global communications, providing critical insights on global public opinion and trends to inform our work.”
While in town, Ms. Fleming also took the opportunity to meet with the staff of the United Nations Information Centre in Washington, DC, which is overseen by the Department of Global Communications, to discuss the office’s work and priorities for 2023.
