EACD Working Group: Risk and Crisis Communications

August 2008

Risk communication is of vital importance in today's society, as the public becomes ever more questioning of the causes and effects of risk and risk-related issues, which are given increasing prominence in the media worldwide. In this more questioning environment, the result of inappropriate or ineffective risk communication can be fear-driven, irrational behaviour that can have significant and potentially devastating economic and political consequences. Risk communicators, be they trained professional communicators or not, have therefore increased responsibilities to ensure that they communicate in an appropriate and effective way in line with best practice.

A crisis by definition distracts senior management, injects elements of uncertainty and confusion, and raises the level of emotion within an organisation. While most leading companies have well-defined crisis plans to guide them in communicating with the news media, financial markets, customers and employees, few have had the opportunity to have these plans challenged, tried and tested amongst peers… until now.

As leaders in the field of European communications, EACD members now have the opportunity to share case study material, lessons learned and to work together to define the influential role that the EACD can play through implementing best crisis and risk communications practice.