ABSTRACT
While communication about risk requires some special considerations, the practice shares three main attributes with all forms of communication. It is imprecise, irreversible, and contextual. Part of the reason communication is imprecise is that both the senders and the receivers of information have personal biases that affect how they process and accept information. In addition, both the senders and receivers are also exposed to outside influences that impact what information makes it across the channel.
As a subspecialty of communication, risk communication involves dialogues in the presence of high stress, high concern, and/or controversy. While there are many practices that have been improved over time to help effectively communicate in high-stake situations, they are merely tools from which an organization selects to do the work. If organizations are not operating with integrity, having the right tools can provide little value in the long run.
