Insights

September 12, 2025

Science is under attack. Increasing partisanship is putting decades of progress at risk, underscoring the critical role communicators play in sustaining trust — acting as a conduit between scientists and the public, cutting through jargon, and building transparency. Today, we explore how to rise to this challenge.

ICYMI: The previous edition of COMPASS was full of media news, the latest in AI and details about September events on our radar. Check it out here.

Trust in science: A fragile but strategic asset

Trust in science is slipping in the U.S., and pressure is mounting worldwide. This has real implications: Amid rising vaccine skepticism and misinformation, Florida officials earlier this month announced their intent to cancel all vaccine mandates.

Globally, initiatives tackling HIV and other infectious diseases have abruptly shut down due to lost funding, resulting in eroding trust in public health systems. These setbacks can undermine decades of scientific progress and community engagement, a reminder that trust is not just fragile, but a strategic asset for protecting public health worldwide.

The backdrop:

• Cultural filters: Trust is no longer shaped only by institutions or research outputs. Political identity, socioeconomic background and worldview influence how science is received and understood. Communicators must meet people through these cultural lenses, not push against them.
• Conversation shifts: Dialogue around science with the public now flows through media platforms, influencers, and commentators — not always directly from scientists. Spin and “false balance” coverage widen the gap between evidence and belief.
• Fragility in institutions: Leadership changes, politicization, and funding changes spotlight vulnerabilities in institutions once seen as pillars of credibility. Recent shakeups at agencies like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization show how quickly shifts at the top can ripple outward, weakening trust in science and health guidance.
• Backfiring phrases: Messaging like “follow the science” oversimplifies complex decisions, fueling skepticism rather than reinforcing confidence. Effective communication should leave room for uncertainty and adaptation, explaining the iterative nature of science so evolution or change builds trust rather than breeding doubt.

The bottom line: Trust in individual scientists remains relatively strong, but confidence in science overall is fragile. In an environment shaped by hostility, polarization, and short attention spans, credibility is no longer enough. Without transparency and empathy, leaders risk losing influence with patients, policymakers, and the public.

What healthcare communicators should do:

• Show the process: Explain how evidence informs decisions, acknowledge uncertainty, and highlight why recommendations evolve.
• Humanize the science: Use stories that connect to lived experience, elevate voices, and broaden messages to show impact through stories that connect to daily life.
• Amplify scientists’ voices: Showcase the people behind the research, meeting audiences where they are — on social media and in their communities.
• Tailor by stakeholder: Segment audiences to understand roles + responsibilities, interests, passion, and how they get their information. Lead with humility and respect, especially with skeptical or underserved groups.
• Counter disinformation: Correct distortions without amplifying them; clarify scientific consensus while avoiding false equivalence.
• Foster dialogue: Replace proclamations with two-way exchange: “Here’s what the evidence shows, and here’s how we’re adapting.”

Why it matters: Communicators have both the responsibility and the opportunity to connect science with society, explaining the process, acknowledging uncertainty, and creating dialogue that builds lasting credibility.

Events: What’s coming up in October

Spotlight: APEC CEO Summit Korea 2025 (Gyeongju, Korea, Oct. 28-31)

The APEC CEO Summit is the most influential annual meeting of business and government leaders in the Asia-Pacific region. Taking place alongside APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, the event will bring together 1,700 delegates and influential voices. Among the featured speakers are Jane Fraser, CEO, Citi, and Joaquin Duato, CEO, Johnson & Johnson, alongside world leaders and other top executives.

Since 2011, Global Gateway Advisors has served as a strategic communications partner to APEC Host Committees. This year, we’re thrilled to have once again secured the participation of an outstanding group of international media partners, including Bloomberg, Caixin Global, CGTN, CNBC, Economist Impact, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs Magazine, Time and The Wall Street Journal. More here

Want to learn more about APEC? Reach out to our team at apec@gga.nyc.

Ideas, Media + Policy

• Semafor World Economy Summit Fall Edition 2025 (Washington, D.C., Oct. 15-16) Dedicated to advancing dialogue on today’s economic challenges, this fall’s Summit will tackle the realities of a volatile era — from rising geopolitical tension to rapid technological change — while spotlighting the ideas, policies, and market shifts shaping the next chapter of global resilience and growth. We’ll be on site supporting clients on stage, including Qualtrics CEO Zig Serafin and Indeed’s chief economist Svenja Gudell. More here

Health + Biotech

• Fierce Biotech Week (Boston, Oct. 7-9) Join leaders across drug development, clinical research, business development, TMF, and communications to advance innovation, shape biotech’s future, and unpack emerging trends and market dynamics. Speakers include Christopher Arendt, chief science officer, head of research, Takeda; Eric Hughes, global R&D head and CMO, Teva; and Grace Crawford, global head, clinical quality management, AstraZeneca. More here

Executive Leadership + Finance

• Wall Street Journal CEO Council Singapore (Singapore, Oct. 1) In a corporate environment filled with uncertainty, CEOs will gather under the theme “Navigating Risk” to discuss issues such as technology disruption, rising cybersecurity threats, and supply chain turmoil. More here
• Charter Workplace Summit (New York City, Oct. 14) In partnership with our client Indeed, this year’s summit will examine HR’s role in AI strategy, navigating economic pressures, advancing DEI, rebuilding trust in the employer-employee relationship, and reimagining talent pipelines for the future of work. Speakers include Indeed’s chief economist, Svenja Gudell; Joseph Fuller, professor of management practice and founder, the Harvard Project on Workforce; and Betty Larson, executive vice president and chief human resources officer, Merck. More here
• Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit (Washington, D.C., Oct. 13-15) With the theme “Leading in a Dynamic World,” this year’s program asks: How can global leaders navigate complexity while driving progress for their companies and communities? Speakers include Selena Gomez, founder, Rare Impact Fund and Rare Beauty; Karen Lynch, former president and CEO, CVS Health, and board member, ThermoFisher Scientific; and Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase. More here
• Forbes Global CEO Conference (Oct. 14-15, Jakarta, Indonesia) Guided by the theme “The World Pivots,” the conference will explore the global economy’s next chapter in an era defined by extraordinary geopolitical and technological turbulence. Speakers include Prabowo Subianto, president, Republic of Indonesia; Tadashi Yanai, chairman, president and CEO, Fast Retailing; and Jane Sun, CEO, Trip.com Group. More here

Bookmark Global Gateway Advisors’ event tracker, updated weekly.

Media news + moves

• CBS headed for major changes: New owner David Ellison plans to shake things up, which reportedly may include installing Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief or co-president as part of a deal to acquire her media startup, The Free Press. A deal is expected within weeks. More here
• Tune into The Axios Show: The five-episode series will follow the platform’s concise “Smart Brevity” format, featuring newsmakers and “fresh, timely conversations that take you beyond the headlines of the day.” The new show will appear across Axios’ own properties, YouTube, and X. More here
• Washington Post enters the Substack chat: Post Runway, a pop-up newsletter timed around fashion week, will be helmed by the outlet’s fashion critic, Rachel Tashjian. “I think a successful journalist in 2025 should be on as many platforms as possible and have a tailored strategy for each one, so it was important to us that we publish original content exclusively on Substack and really engage with the platform on its own terms,” she told Feed Me’s Emily Sundberg. The Economist is another recent arrival to the platform. More here
• TheStreet.com goes to print: “Some may think we are crazy for launching a print TheStreet magazine in a digital media age,” wrote co-editor Todd Campbell. “Maybe so, but some investments are worth it!” The first edition will hit shelves in November. More here
• A new podcast from Fortune: In “500: Titans and Disruptors of Industry,” editor-in-chief Alyson Shontell takes a deep dive with top business leaders. The first episode features Accenture’s Julie Sweet. Listen to it here
• And one from Marketing Brew, too: Hosted by editor Kelsey Sutton, reporter Jennimai Nguyen, and senior reporter Katie Hicks, the podcast will air on Wednesdays. More here

Media moves:

• Starting today, Axios AI+ will be sent as Axios AI+ Government on Fridays, with Ashley Gold and Maria Curi joining the AI reporting team.
• Semafor hired former Fortune editor Clay Chandler to oversee its live journalism programs in the Asia-Pacific region and to assist with the launch of a new Asia product, and hired Andrew Browne as managing editor of live journalism.
• Yasmin Khorram joined Politicoas an economic policy reporter focused on U.S. businesses.
• CNNhired The Wall Street Journal’s Vaughn Sterling as the new executive producer of “The Source with Kaitlan Collins.”
• CNBC hired Elizabeth Napolitano as a markets reporter.
• Kevin Dubouis, director of strategic initiatives at The Wall Street Journal, departed for a community strategy role at OpenAI.
• Washington Post tech reporter Trisha Thadani is shifting to the health beat.
• Elias Isquith was hired by Vox as a senior editor for policy, politics, and ideas.
• Axios appointed Amy Harder as its national energy correspondent.
• Josh Schafer is Barron’s new newsletter editor.