Category Research project
  • Risikokommunikation

Optimising risk and crisis communications for governments, agencies, and public health organisations

Project status
In Progress
Project start
Oct 2021
Project end
Oct 2025
Acronym
MIRKKOMM
Department
Risikokommunikation

Description and Objective

How citizens want to be informed by authorities and the media in times of crisis, what health-related messages reach them, and how information must be presented so that it is at the same time understandable, effective, and credible are the issues addressed by the research project "Optimising Risk and Crisis Communication by Governments, Authorities, and Public Health Organisations (MIRKKOMM)". Thus, MIRKKOMM aims to improve the risk and crisis communication of public health authorities and organisations. Accordingly, the impact and potential of communication via various media, such as warning apps, social media, television or newspapers, are analysed. In addition, it will be examined how the information is received, processed and evaluated by citizens, journalists or bloggers. The design of information in text, language, image or sound is analysed, as they contribute to acceptance and comprehensibility. The findings will be aligned with citizens' expectations of official and journalistic messages. For the first time, the project gains knowledge on how communication works in the complex interaction of different actors and media in a crisis situation. Recommendations and further training for authorities will be developed so that they can communicate more effectively in a crisis situation.
Type of project

Third-party funded project

Areas of research

Gesundheit von Mensch, Tier und Umwelt (One Health)

Organisational units and partners

Lead unit: Sozialwissenschaftliche Risikokommunikationsforschung (2SZ)
Contact persons: Dr. Annett Schulze
External partner: Universität Trier, Technische Universität Ilmenau, Europa-Universität Viadrina, SRH University of Applied Sciences Berlin, mecom - Medien-Communikations-Gesellschaft mbH

Funding body and grant number

Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
13N15900

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