Water Contamination Crisis Communication - Essay Example

Water Contamination Crisis Communication Introduction Water management systems and its related sources are the most vital componentof human life that touches everyone and is worth protection from biological or chemical contamination. Thus, any water related issues or problem that needs an immediate attention should be communicated effectively using the right communication channels or systems to avoid public misinformation or panic. Therefore, it is worth noting that, the steps or actions taken in communication process in addressing the water crisis situation can either provoke the public to doubt the credibility of the regional emergency management team, public health systems as well as water hygiene and sanitation departments (Bloch, 2014). For instance, any crisis communication made through any organization should not attract media (articles, newspapers and social media) coverage in an unintended or more contradicting way that creates blame, misquotation or communication failures. However, an effective communications plan in communication crisis acts as a turning point or a point of focus in alleviating or solving the situational crisis (DuPré, 2005). Analysis presented in this paper is helpful in understanding an effective communication crisis plan in relation to regional emergency management team that are put into action in order to solve out water contamination crisis. On broad analysis, communication strategies, individuals and the communication groups both within and outside the organization are illustrated vividly in this paper to avoid public confrontation, panic, fear as well as avoiding media attention (Bloch, 2014). Conversely, the differences in the communication process used in water contamination crisis situations, lessons learned from the crisis and how the knowledge can be incorporated from this scenario to improve health care communication strategies are indicated. Lastly, the paper Illustrate how appropriate technology such as social media can be used to enhance communication, creates opportunities for managing the crisis as well as the effects of media in communication are extensively illustrated (Heath & OHair, 2010). Pre-crisis communication As the director of water regional Emergency Management Officer and the leader of the organization, I will ensure the organization communication plan; policies and guidelines are followed. All the pre-crisis management team and experts should be contacted. First and foremost, the chief of public relations, safety organization layer, the senior manager of the water and sanitation officer and anyone else in the organization that might provides an insight of the of the real situation within the organization should be contacted. In addition, I would extend outside the body and contact the public health officers, the community leader as well as the town clerks and officers. The work of the combined team is to come up with the plans of action while protecting the organization reputation and integrity (Heath & OHair, 2010). Conversely, the communication channel followed with the communication involves both vertical and horizontal communication channel. Vertical crisis communication channels will be used to relation information down the organization while horizontal communication channel will be used to lay information within the same organizational ranks as well as external communication. The involved team should then converge and the position in plans of action by taking consideration of the unauthorized procedures, human errors and any wrong judgment made while communicating the crisis. In addition, adequate supervision and protection of confidential information should be taken throughout all operating procedures (DuPré, 2005). Crisis communication plan After teams converging and taking the emergency position of action, the selected team within and outside the organization should design an identified primary spokesperson who represents the organization to the media. The role of a spokesperson is to establish or develop credibility with the media through media interviews and maintain the public calmness throughout the situation (Anthonissen, 2008). In addition, the spokesperson should able to convey or project confidence to the public in order to prevent panic about the water contamination crisis at hand. Throughout the communication of the crisis, the situation must be brought under control by giving all the facts about the crisis. The gathered information and facts about in relation to water contamination are spoken out openly by indicating multiple reasons why the situation is thought to be in a dangerous condition than expected (Roebuck, 2012). However, the media communication networks and journalists must be given much information to avoid inaccurate information extracted from other sources, speculations as well as ensuring the information conveyed protects the organization reputations and integrity. In addition, the communication of the water communication crisis should be timely, quick and accurate to avoid so as other sources are shunted from giving controversial reports. From a different point of view, active and assertive crisis communication enables the public to create attention only from a reliable source (Bloch, 2014). Post-crisis communication plan After crisis communication, follow-up must be done by the organization as well as the involved parties to ensure the organization reputation of the public protection is restored. Internal policies and regulations in relation to crisis communication should be changed or revised to ensure that any repeat of the crisis does not occur. On similar accounts, systems and policies should be developed that handle the current situation as well as minimizing the occurrences of the emergency situations. In addition, crisis management team that deal with crisis communication and taking actions should be developed (Heath & OHair, 2010). On the same approach, all the organization resources should be assembled and organized to keep the team updated on any possibility of development of the crisis that affect the public health and sanitation. Lastly, disaster emergency procedures should be developed and distributed within the organization as well as outside the organization. In addition, the end of the crisis is declared, and a formal briefing is conducted analyzing the media coverage and crisis outcome (Roebuck, 2012). Potential advantages associated with crisis communication There are multiple benefits associated with crisis communication related to the organization, private sector as well as the public. First and foremost, an organization can balance with the public relations and the legal issues. In addition, the group reputation or image as well as the organization integrity is well protected (Heath & OHair, 2010). From a different point of view, the organization was able to respond to a crisis effectively as it gets prepared to address the crisis before the real occurrence. In contrast, the public was protected from crisis panic and fear. In addition, the public remains confidence in the affected organizations mechanisms of crisis solving. The private sector was protected from speculation, misquotations, and allocation of blame as there are proper crisis communication plans that are followed throughout the crisis (Bloch, 2014). Potential challenges associated with crisis communication The potential challenges that faced the organization through communication of the crisis were absence operational crisis communication plan. However, inappropriate facilities and skilled personnel in relation to crisis communication plan were inadequate to response timely and accurately to avoid any speculation (Roebuck, 2012). There were also multiple challenges that faced the public and the private sectors as there were a lot of public misinformation as well as speculation from unreliable sources that created panic and tension. In addition, a lot of misquotation of the organization through media caused the public and the private sector to build a notion of believing in unreliable sources more than what they get from the organization (Heath & OHair, 2010). Communication processes difference in water contamination and lesson learned The differences communication process gained in water pollution crisis through the use of vertical, horizontal and diagonal communication channels in crisis communication process were quite educative and informative. For example, in water pollution crisis communication process, I learned that preparing a crisis communicant plan is a systematic and proactive procedure that balances the public challenges with the organization reputation. In addition, I was able to learn that crisis communication plan involves gathering communication team, identifying the crisis, developing message of the response and putting the plan into action. On similar accounts, I was able to learn what the media want or cover in the case of a crisis communication (Heath & OHair, 2010). Water contamination crisis communication plan can be incorporated into health care communication strategies through a number of various ways. First, pre-crisis communication plan can be designed that gather all healthcare potential crisis information as well as identifying any related crisis. From a different point of view, the possible health care crisis preparedness can be incorporated into the plan through crisis communication crisis that will help solve out health care related issues. Lastly, health care crisis communication team is quite essential to be included in the crisis communications plan to ensure early crisis communication preparedness in the form of response, monitoring and action-taking (Anthonissen, 2008). Effects of appropriate communication technology in crisis communication Appropriate technology such as social media affects crisis communication during the crisis situation by regulating speculations, controlling the scene of the emergency situation, telling the truth consistently and following the crisis situation throughout all the process of crisis communication and implementation. However, technologies can be used to enhance communication through accurate reporting of the crisis, avoiding the speculation and protecting the public and the private sector from panic and fear (Roebuck, 2012). In addition, technology might be used differently or negatively in crisis communication plan into increase public speculation, create panic as well as destroying the organization reputation and creditability. Media opportunities in management of water contamination crisis or other related healthcare communication crisis include; understanding the crisis, understanding the follow emergency information, supporting corporate crisis communication and providing disaster follow up responses (Bloch, 2014). Conclusion Crisis communication plan, action and responses in relation to water contamination can only be achieved through collective bargains. Understanding all the case crisis communication processes, members to be contacted both within and outside the organization are quite essential in planning of the communication actions, implementations and crisis communication followup. However, the role of media or technologies serves as a turning point in communication that creates a link between the organization, public, and private sector. Conversely, media opportunities in relation to the lessons learned in crisis communication process, and other crisis communication procedures can be incorporated into health care communication strategies for development of medical related emergency communication preparedness. Further research should be done to explore out the role of media in crisis communication as well as developing mechanisms that create an effective crisis communication strategies within and outside organizations. References Anthonissen, P. F. (2008). Crisis communication: Practical PR strategies for reputation management and company survival. London: Kogan Page. Bloch, O. (2014). Corporate identity and crisis response strategies: Challenges and opportunities of communication in times of crisis. DuPré, A. (2005). Communicating about health: Current issues and perspectives. Boston: McGraw-Hill. Heath, R. L., & OHair, D. (2010). Handbook of risk and crisis communication. New York: Routledge. Roebuck, D. B. (2012). Communication strategies for todays managerial leader. New York, N.Y.] (222 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017: Business Expert Press. Read More