We are bombarded on a daily basis on the do’s and don’ts of daily life during this pandemic. From our elected officials to health experts and health editors and reporters, we’re offered daily messaging on how to stay safe and keep others safe as well.
All PR is the development and maintenance of effective communication with representatives of the media, through to your target audience. The issue is: how effective is the messaging around COVID-19?
In 1918, the pandemic known as the Spanish flu included communication in the form of posters and flyers.
With COVID-19 and our ability to disseminate comprehensive communication in an accessible manner, why is it that messaging differs from country to country, and even city to city?
In Canada, each province is fighting the pandemic in its own way with some emerging as more successful than others. Success today is defined as having your community understand the importance of physical distancing and displaying the willingness to stay home in order to protect each other from the virus.
Has our messaging been strong enough?
Why are some Canadians adhering to the stay-home policy while others are not?
According to Dr. David Williams, in answer to the question of why Ontarians are not going to assessment centres even when exhibiting symptoms of COVID: “perhaps Ontario Public Health’s messaging and communications weren’t as clear as it should be. ” He added that the agency is working to clarify its directions.
Getting your message right during a pandemic is a matter of life and death.
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Getting your messaging right:
- Be sure your message is complete. Does it answer who, what, when, where and why.
- Make your message crystal clear. Don’t use jargon or technical terms.
- Make your message concise. Keep it brief and easily understood.
Effective communication is always important – at work and home. Right now, it’s a matter of life and death.
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