Effective Media Communication during Public Health Emergencies: A Who Field Guide

Effective communication through the media is an essential responsibility of public health officials, particularly during emergencies. Urgent, high-concern situations present a unique communication challenge. Poor communication can erode public support, fan emotions, undermine confidence, and amplify social and economic costs. Effective communication can rally support, calm a nervous public, provide much-needed information, encourage cooperative behaviours, and help save lives. The Field Guide, produced as a separate book, summarises the practical steps that can be taken to strengthen and enhance efforts made in this area. The target audiences for the Field Guide are WHO offices, field personnel and public health officials who are unfamiliar with media interactions or who wish to sharpen their skills in this area.Covello, V. T. is the author of 'Effective Media Communication during Public Health Emergencies: A Who Field Guide', published 2007 under ISBN 9789241547048 and ISBN 9241547049.