Principles Of Risk Communication Research Articles

Taking the risk out of communication: Avoiding six inhibitors to effective dialogue with the public

AbstractMany environmental professionals might agree with Edmund Burke, a British statesman, who wrote, “It is a general popular error to suppose that the loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for its welfare.” The problem of dealing with the public is one of the greatest challenges to effective environmental program management. Adding to Burke's axiom, the author tells us that it is another popular error to suppose that the blame for this problem lies with the public. Government officials can be their own worst enemy. Some solutions have been found through university research in the field of risk communication. Much attention has been brought to risk communication principles and theories, and this article provides practical suggestions.