Communication

Communication is a very broad term, encompassing different messages, media, and goals. It has been defined as “social interaction through messages." The heading includes interpersonal dialogue, formal messages, and instructions. Different situations, of course, have different communications goals and require different communications strategies.

In the case of a water contamination event, communication is vital on many levels. Communication between officials and the affected community helps to give residents the information they need in order to make decisions about risk and take action. In the case of a longer-term events, communication is also vital to the process of identification, remediation, and restoration of the site of the contamination.

For the community, communication is an integral component of the response to the contamination.

Communication

• helps to include or exclude a community from the identification and remediation process
• helps or hinders individuals from making risk-based decisions
• helps to address community concerns or does not deal with them appropriately

Different aspects of communication relevant to this work can be explored through the links at left and below.

What are some of the models used to describe how communication works?

How does communicating risks differ from communicating other information? What are some characteristics of risk communication?

How should communication work in an emergency situation? What are some examples of communication in an emergency situation?

How do literacy levels affect communication? What are some facts about adult literacy in the United States?

• “This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs.

Any questions?”

• “Surgeon General's Warning:

Smoking By Pregnant Women May Result in Fetal Injury, Premature Birth, And Low Birth Weight.”

• “Obey your thirst.”

• “For Immediate Release... Pascoag Water Department is asking its customers not to drink the water."