ELI NATINSKY PORTFOLIO
  • Homepage
  • Writing
  • Video
  • Blog
  • Recommendations
  • About Me
  • Contact

This pandemic is a communications emergency

5/5/2020

0 Comments

 
Note: Deborah Hudson, my fellow IABCLA board member, wrote the following piece for the chapter blog and I wanted to share. I serve as the group's vice president/president-elect.

This week’s New Yorker magazine had a riveting article about how coronavirus outcomes varied because of the way doctors communicate in a public health crisis.

One sentence jumps out: one of the E.I.S.’s core principles is that a pandemic is a communications emergency as much as a medical crisis. (EIS or Epidemic Intelligence Service is CDC’s post-doctoral program in epidemiology focusing on field work.)

Picture
Click image to download
From the article, I took a run at the CDC website to find what they had to say about communications emergencies. I found a 460-page manual for a course titled Crisis Emergency and Risk Communication. Published in 2014, the social media section may seem a little dusty, but even the table of contents gives a sense of the thorough and practical guidance available for communicators. There’s something reassuring to know the course was built by people who have seen devastating emergencies and crises before and have field-tested their response.
​
Some of the things I am taking away can be put on a wallet card:

Four ways people process information during a crisis:
o We simplify messages.
o We hold on to current beliefs.
o We look for additional information and opinions.
o We believe the first message.

The six principles of effective crisis and risk communication:
o Be first.
o Be right.
o Be credible.
o Express empathy.
o Promote action.
o Show respect.

Yes, in many regards it’s basic stuff. But for me that’s the just ticket during these overwhelming times.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I'm Eli Natinsky and I'm a communication specialist. This blog explores my work and professional interests. I also delve into other topics, including media, marketing, pop culture, and technology.

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

  • Homepage
  • Writing
  • Video
  • Blog
  • Recommendations
  • About Me
  • Contact