Transparency and the role of social media in reaching out to local community is the theme of this year’s ESPO Award, now open for entries.
The ESPO Award 2019 will be awarded to the port authority that has developed a successful strategy to reach out to the local community and is succeeding in directly communicating with the port citizens.
By developing a successful social media, “the port authority makes it possible for every citizen to follow the port in its successes and challenges. Moreover, it is open to dialogue with the citizens and, ideally, makes every citizen an ambassador for its port,” said the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO).
Using social media as a method of communication and demonstrating a high level of transparency about operational achievements, future strategies and environmental challenges and performance is becoming increasingly important for European ports who can only function and further develop if they receive the licence to operate from the local citizens, emphasised ESPO.
New focus annually
The ESPO Award was established in 2009 to promote innovative projects of port authorities that improve societal integration of ports, especially with the city or wider community in which they are located. In this way, the Award aims to stimulate the sustainable development of European ports and their cities.
Previous themes have included Creative Strategies to Communicate the Port to the Wider Public (2011), Youth (2012), Heritage (2013), Innovative Environmental Projects (2014), Relationship with Schools and Universities (2015), Nature in Ports (2016), Art and Cultural involvement of the port (2017) and Ports as a good work environment for everyone (2018).
The deadline for project submissions is 28 June and the award will be presented in November.
