EPR-Public Communications L-09

1. EPR-Public CommunicationsL-09 Audiences and Communication Channels

2. Audience needs • “General public” notion is not accurate; • Each group has specific interests, priorities and information needs; • Audiences must be identified prior to emergency; • Directly affected groups require detailed information on risks and responses; • Indirectly affected groups need tailored information to reduce risks and fears.

3. Identifying audiences • People directly affected by emergency; • People associated with those affected (e.g. families, friends, colleagues and neighbours); • People using affected infrastructure (e.g. roads, parks, schools and water supplies);

4. Audiences – continued • People affected by protective actions (e.g. evacuation, iodine tablets and sheltering); • People responsible for responding to the event; • People measuring & monitoring contamination;

5. Audiences – continued • Opinion makers and leaders in affected area; • People making decisions on radiation protection; • People obstructing decisions on radiation protection;

6. Audiences – continued • People who need to be informed by law, convention or agreement; • People suffering economic shortages due to the event.

7. More audiences • Nuclear actors not involved in emergency response; • Potential visitors to affected site (e.g. reporters, officials, environmental activists and regulators).

8. Key communication tips • Audiences should be engaged in preparedness phase; • Identify drivers of trust, agreement and controversy;

9. Tips – continued • Involve stakeholder groups in policy dialogues and decisions; • Involvement builds trust, understanding and cooperation; • Trust ensures that stakeholder involvement builds confidence and cooperation.

10. Audiences, channels and messages • Audiences; • Messages; • Information products and activities; • Effective communications strategy forges an efficient combination of these key components.

11. Key channels of communication Different channels are available to transmit information from an organization to the public; These channels can be controlled by a specific interest or can be completely uncontrolled; Communications channels include telephones- both voice and text; electronic media-television and radio; print media; internet-email, websites and social networking technologies; Not all channels will necessarily be available or practical to use in an emergency.

12. Classification of channels

13. Available communications channels • What are the common communications channels that would be available in your country? • Are they controlled? By whom? • Are they uncontrolled?

14. Organization website • Should contain pre-existing content on radiation safety; • Should have sign-up for e-mail updates; • Should have all press releases issued; • Can host officials and reporters for on-line interchange; • Organization should identify itself on social media sites.

15. Mass media • Internet will not replace the traditional news media; • Misleading information could negatively affect emergency countermeasures; • Special companies monitor/analyze mass media and internet sites.