IAEAInternational Atomic Energy Agency

EPR-Public CommunicationsL-08

Sources of Information

IAEA

Sources of information for the public

• Variety of sources;• Positive public response from credible

sources of information;• Credible = consistent, authoritative, factual;• Information should reflect needs of intended

audience;• PIO to monitor other sources.

IAEA

Sources of information for the PIO

• Emergency response teams;• Emergency site personnel (NPP, industrial

site, hospital, etc.);• Local, national and international agencies.

IAEA

Sources of information for the PIO

Sources of information within your organization:• Identify who in your organization will be gathering critical

information on the emergency (e.g. on radiation levels, injuries or deaths);

• Know who will be in charge of mobilizing resources and making plans for public actions like sheltering or evacuation;

• Collect contact information necessary to be in communication with these sources. Establish mechanisms for communicating with them during the event (phone, email, etc.)

IAEA

Sources of information for the PIO

Sources of information from other organizations responding to or involved in the emergency:• Identify other organizations involved in responding to

the emergency. Some may already be part of ICS but many will not;

• Include agencies at all levels of government, as well as international;

• Collect contact information: establish and test communication mechanisms.

IAEA

Sources of information for the PIO

The general public:• Direct, via inquiries from the public;• Indirect, via social media networks.

IAEA

Monitor information from all sources

All sources must be monitored for 3 reasons:• For additional useful information;• To be aware of the reporting of any

inaccurate information;• To be aware of all information being

disseminated about the emergency in order to maintain your organization’s credibility and ability to influence public behaviour.

•.

IAEA

Sources to monitor

• The news media;• Online information and opinion sources

(e.g. blogs, NGOs…);• Establish an inventory of the key websites to

monitor in the media and social networks;• Establish procedures for reporting external

information to key officials in your organization.

IAEA

Coordination amongst organizations

• Many other organizations at the local, national, regional and international level will be communicating during a nuclear or radiological emergency;

• Make an inventory of these organizations and establish ways to monitor what they are saying. Establish contacts with them and mechanisms for communications;

• Appoint staff responsible for this coordination.