Communicators get proactive on alerts about swine flu, survey says

Digital avenues favored to get out precautions and ‘don’t panic’ advice

Communicators have been out front this week in spreading words of caution — and calm — about swine flu.

Roughly 85 percent of communicators who responded to a Ragan poll conducted Tuesday and Wednesday had already gotten the word out to fellow employees.

Of more than 300 respondents, 62 percent reported referring to their company’s crisis-communications plan to decide how to communicate the news. They got the message out via e-mail (69 percent) or company intranet (64 percent) and a smattering of different channels, including face-to-face communication, e-newsletter, and CEO memo. Only 8 percent said they went with social media (which in this survey specified blogs, audio, or video) to get the message out.

For most, or 93 percent, the message detailed precautions to take, while another 53 percent included a “Don’t panic” sentiment. Some, or 41 percent, sought to correct misinformation circulating by including a FAQ from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Using digital means to assuage concerns