Risk and crisis communication during the corona pandemic

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic presented major challenges to science and society worldwide. In a context of great scientific uncertainty, decisions had to be made urgently and explained carefully while risks had to be communicated clearly. In such a situation, it is almost inevitable that judgements will change during the course of time and also retrospectively and that mistakes can’t be avoided. In order to prevent repeating potential mistakes and to learn from them for the future, we believe it is particularly important to discuss the communication and decision-making processes during the pandemic controversially, examine it in detail and subject it to systematic analysis. With this article, we would like to encourage this discussion by providing some examples of -in our view- problematic aspects of pandemic and crisis communication by public authorities, politicians and the media in Germany. We are aware that our view of this process is of course subjective. We understand the presentation and harmonization of complementary perspectives on crisis communication and management as an iterative process that should be continued with further articles.