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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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References

Bean, M.C. (1988). Speaking of risk. Civil Engineering (February): 59-61.

Bennett, P., Calman, K. (eds) (1999). Risk Communication and Public Health. New York: Oxford Press.

Chess, C. (1989) Encouraging effective risk communication in government: suggestions for agency management. In: Covello VT, McCallum DB and Pavlova MT (Eds.). Effective Risk Communication. New York: Plenum Press.

Chess, C., Hance, B.J., Sandman P.M. (1988). Improving Dialogue with Communities: A Short Guide to Government Risk Communication. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Covello, V. (1992). Risk Communication, Trust, and Credibility. Health and Environmental Digest, 6 (1):1-4 (April).

Covello, V. (1993). Risk Communication, Trust, and Credibility. Journal of Occupational Medicine 35: 18-19 (January).

Covello, V., Allen F. (1988). Seven Cardinal Rules of Risk Communication. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Policy Analysis, Washington, D.C.

Covello, V, MCCallum, D, Pavlova, M. (1989). Effective Risk Communication: The Role and Responsibility of Government and Nongovernment Organizations. New York: Plenum Press.

Covello, V., Peters, R.G., Wojtecki, J.G., & Hyde, R.C. (2001). Risk communication, the West Nile virus epidemic, and bioterrorism: Responding to the communication challenges posed by the intentional or unintentional release of a pathogen in an urban setting. Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 78, 382-91.

Donovan, E., Covello, V. (1989). Risk Communication Student Manual. Chemical Manufacturers’ Association, Washington, D.C.

Fischhoff, B., Lichtenstein, S., Slovic, P., Keeney, D. (1981). Acceptable Risk. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Cambridge University Press.

Frewer, L.J. Public risk perceptions and risk communication. In: Bennett, P. & Calman, K. (Eds.) (1999). Risk Communication and Public Health. London: Oxford University Press.

Lum, M., Tinker T. (1994). A primer on health risk communication principles and practices. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Health Policy Committee, Washington, D.C.

Maxwell, R. (1999). The British government’s handling of risk: Some reflections on the BSE/CJD crisis. In Bennett, P & Calman, K. (Eds.) (1999), Risk Communication and Public Health, (pp. 95-107). London: Oxford University Press.

McLoughlin, B. (1998) Encountering the Media: Media Strategies & Techniques (Communicate with Power 2000 Series) Washington, D.C.: MultiMedia Publishing.

Morrisey, G.L., Sechrest, T.L., Warman, W.B. (1997). Loud and Clear: How to Prepare and Deliver Effective Business and Technical Presentations (Fourth Edition). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Perseus Publishing.
O’Toole, T. (2001). Emerging Illness and Bioterrorism: Implications for public health. Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 78, 396-402.

Plough, A., Krimsky, S. (1988) Environmental Hazards: Communicating Risks as a Social Process. Westport, Connecticut: Auburn House.

Samet, J.M., Burke, T.A. (1998). Epidemiology and risk assessment. In: Brownson RC, Petitti DB (Eds.): Applied Epidemiology: Theory to Practice. New York: Oxford.

 
   
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