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Communicating in a Crisis:

Risk Communication Guidelines for Public Officials

 

 


Table of Contents

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Administrator's Message

Introduction

Communications Fundamentals

Communicating Complex, Scientific, and Technical Information

Myths, Principles, and Pitfalls

Understanding and Working with the Media

Correcting Errors and Rumor Control

Assessing Personal Strengths and Weaknesses

Presenting Information at Public Meetings

Recognizing Opportunities to Speak Out

Suggested Reading and Resources

References


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Suggested Reading and Resources

NEWS MEDIA

• Allan S, Adam B, and Carter C (editors). Environmental Risks and the Media. London and New York (NY): Routledge, December 1999, ISBN 0415214467; 278 pages.

• Government and Other Agency Roles in Risk Communication by Amler RW, Tinker T. National risk communication training program for State health agency personnel. Atlanta (GA): Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (US); 1993. Report No.: ATSDR/HS-93/22. 200 p. Available from: NTIS, Springfield, VA; PB93-192953.

• Peters GA and Peters BJ. Warnings, Instructions and Technical Communication. Tucson (AZ): Lawyers and Judges Publishing Company. February 1999; ISBN 0913875619; 450 pages.

• Reporting on Risk: A Journalist’s Handbook on Environmental Risk Assessment. Foundation for American Communications and the National Sea Grant College Program. http://www.facsnet.org/report_tools/guides_primers/risk/

• Salvador M and Sias PM (editors). The Public Voice in a Democracy at Risk. Highlands Ranch (CO): Praeger Publishers. January 1998; ISBN 0275960137, 216 pages.

• Singer E and Endreny PM. Reporting on Risk: How the Mass Media Portray Accidents, Diseases, Disasters, and Other Hazards. New York (NY): Russell Sage Foundation. May 1993; ISBN: 0871548011, 244 pages.

• Willis WJ, Okunade AA, and Willis J. Reporting on Risks: The Practice and Ethics of Health and Safety Communication. Highlands Ranch (CO): Praeger Publishers. July 1997; ISBN: 0275952967, 240 pages.
BOOKS, REPORTS, AND JOURNAL ARTICLES

• Chess C, Salomone KL, Hance BJ. Improving risk communication in government: research priorities. Risk Anal 1995 Apr;15(2):127-35.

• Chess C, Salomone KL, Sandman PM. Risk communication activities of State health agencies. Am J Public Health 1991 Apr;81(4):489-91.

• Covello VT, McCallum DB, Pavlova MT, (editors). Effective risk communication: the role and responsibility of government and non-government organizations. New York (NY): Plenum; 1989. 366 pages. ISBN 0-306-43075-4.

• Fisher A, Chen YC. Customer perceptions of agency risk communication. Risk Anal 1996 Apr;16(2):177-84.

• Fisher A, Chitose A, Gipson PS. One agency’s use of risk assessment and risk communication. Risk Anal 1994 Apr;14(2):207-12.

• Hance BJ. Improving dialogue with communities: a risk communication manual for government. Trenton (NJ): New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; 1988.

• Interagency Task Force on Environmental Cancer and Heart and Lung Disease. Workshop on the Role of Government in Risk communication and Public Education. Contemporary Issues in Risk Analysis, Vol. 4, January 21-23, 1987, Washington, D.C.

• Santos SL, McCallum DB. Communicating to the public: using risk comparisons. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 1997 Dec;3(6):1197-214.

• SIS: Specialized Information Services [homepage on the Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). Available from: http://www.sis.nlm.nih.gov/index.cfm

• Sly T. The perception and communication of risk: a guide for the local health agency. Can J Public Health 2000 Mar-Apr;91(2):153-6.

• Tinker TL. Recommendations to improve risk communication: lessons learned from the U.S. Public Health Service. J Health Commun 1996 Apr-Jun;1(2):197-217.

• Tinker TL, Collins CM, King HS, Hoover MD. Assessing risk communication effectiveness: perspectives of agency practitioners. J Hazard Mater 2000 Apr 3;73(2):117-27.

WEB SITES

• Center for Environmental Communication (CEC). Cook College, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. http://aesop.rutgers.edu/~cec/home.html

• Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication (IRARC), http://depts.washington.edu/irarc/

• The Risk Communication Network, World Health Organization Europe (WHO Europe), Centre for Environmental and Risk Management. http://www.uea.ac.uk/menu/acad_depts/env/all/resgroup/cerm/rcninfo.htm

• Risk Communications and Services Center (Canadian). http://www.rcandsc.com/

• Society for Risk Analysis. http://www.sra.org/

   
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