Poll: Most communication departments rattled by downturn

Respondents suggest the crisis will affect even more communicators in the future

The worsening financial crisis has already affected 73 percent of communication departments and seems poised to rattle even more, a recent poll shows.

The poll, conducted by Ragan and PollStream, asked 773 communicators how the financial crisis has impacted their departments and companies.

Of the communicators polled, 36 percent said the crisis has sparked budget cuts and freezes in their departments. Another 25 percent cited low morale, while 12 percent said layoffs have hit their departments.

And, while 27 percent said the crisis has shown no effect so far, the many comments to this poll suggest that number will change. “[Executives are] uncertain how bad, or not bad, the situation will get,” said one respondent, a reflection of several similar comments.

These results, while stark, also reveal a long-term—and positive—trend in the industry, said one communications consultant.