Onderzoeksartikel

De ontwikkeling van risicocommunicatie bij de overheid

---

Abstract

Thanks to the governmental interest in crisis communication, also risk communication came into the picture. For a long time risk communication was focussed especially on environmental risks as well as on the use of new technologies. And often these so-called ‘new’ risks lacked public consensus. As a result, there was - also in science -more attention for the process of communication then for content and presentation of the message. For those who had to deal with risk communication in practice, the theory gave little hold. Even less when with communication on already known and accepted risks.. This is the more conspicuous because in the field of food safety a number of crises (dioxine, hormones) occurred, due to bad or unclear communication and not because of a controversial or new technology. Based on the experiences in the VWA (the Dutch Authority on the Safety of Food and Consumer Products) a framework was developed which describes the three mainstreams on risk communication in the governmental area. The basic assumptions herein are formed by the public expectations concerning the risk information by governmental authorities. Dependant on the risk status, the aim of the communication differs from providing information, to consultation and education. This framework helps the risk communication advisor to formulate the content of the message and to choose the adequate presentation.

How to Cite:

Van Geest, I., (2004) “De ontwikkeling van risicocommunicatie bij de overheid”, Tijdschrift voor Communicatiewetenschap 32(4), 314–322. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/tvc.93111