Helpful insights and information for communicators about COVID-19 in 2021

13 Feb, 2021 COVID-19 Latest

The effects of the catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic will last for years around the world. Communication professionals and organizational management need to understand the global and local impact of the virus. You can update and increase your understanding of all important aspects of a virus response so you know the best ways to communicate. By reading the article titles listed below, from 2021, and accessing the most relevant ones you will increase your wide understanding, including key management perspectives. You will also demonstrate to senior management your valuable role in the organization, because the crisis has proven the importance of good communication as a vital part of the decision-making process.

(Above image: World Economic Forum)

Resources

Associated Press has compiled a Coronavirus Topical Guide, an alphabetical list of many COVID-19 related terms.
Chartered Institute of Public Relations of the UK has a mental health section in its website to help employers and individuals.
Drugwatch, a US consumer advocacy organization, has published a consumer’s guide to COVID-19, and a guide on how to deal with mental health issues such as anxiety in this time of extra stress caused by the pandemic.
Gallup’s COVID-19 data resources include a Coronavirus Pandemic Topics A to Z page – where you can find individual survey questions with full trends. Also, links to all of Gallup’s articles about the pandemic are available on this master list of COVID-19 news articles, sorted by topic.
Harvard Business Review publishes an “Insight Center” on the virus, as above, to help people who are “leading and working through a pandemic.”
Institute for Public Relations has published an “IPR COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Resource Center” web page, which has links to several vaccination research topics and other resources. Important reading for communicators.
McKinsey runs frequent updates on its COVID Response Center, which “draws on what McKinsey and others have learned to provide leaders with resources to help reset their organizations and communities.” You can subscribe to McKinsey’s free newsletter and information here or via any of their article pages.
MITSloan Management Review has a COVID-19 Resources page containing “expert insights and strategies for managers during the COVID-19 outbreak.”
Ragan posts a “Crisis Communications Daily” email newsletter containing the latest news, information and advice about responding to COVID-19. You can subscribe here at no cost. Inclusiveness: Also, Ragan has published an “Inclusive Language Toolkit,” which provides handy advice on What an inclusive language toolkit should cover.
The Frameworks Institute gives free, valuable guidance on the most effective ‘big picture’ messages to use when discussing COVID-19. For instance, framing the post-pandemic economy and talking about what comes next. The World Economic Forum publishes a regularly updated “COVID Action Platform,” which contains a lot of ‘macro’ information about the pandemic for organizations and business sectors globally. You can subscribe here at no cost. Above image: World Economic Forum ‘COVID Action Platform.
This is Home UK has produced ‘Working Out Our New Normal – Your COVID-19 communications resource.’ This page offers several downloadable ‘toolkits’ including an ‘Internal communications COVID-19 support toolkit.’ Some helpful info here.
Broadband Search has compiled a list of 16 internet learning resources for adults, which is a welcome source for online career-related information and learning during this time of the pandemic.

Update your COVID-19 insights

The articles below are listed alphabetically within broad topics to make them easier to find.

Trends, surveys, factual information

Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 US Dept of Labor – Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Let’s flatten the infodemic curve, World Health Organisation
What COVID-19 has done to our wellbeing, in 12 charts, Harvard Business Review, 10 February 2021
When will the COVID-19 pandemic end? 20 January-2021 update McKinsey

Vaccines

6 tips for covering COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, Journalists’ Resource, 9 February 2021
7 Myths about the Coronavirus Vaccine New York Times, 13 February 2021
A Communicator’s Guide to COVID-19 Vaccination, Institute of PR
AP-NORC poll – A third of US adults skeptical of COVID shots, AP News, 11 February 2021
Coronavirus vaccine fears permeate workplaces, Axios, 10 February 2021
Exposure to misinformation could make people refuse a COVID-19 vaccine, Imperial College London, 5 February 2021
Help your employees get vaccinated Harvard Business Review Management Tips email 13 January 2021
How Elvis Got Americans to Accept the Polio Vaccine Scientific American, 18 January 2021
How Influencers, Celebrities, and FOMO Can Win Over Vaccine Skeptics, Harvard Business School email newsletter, 29 January 2021
Survey – Majority of employees support mandatory vaccination as a condition for returning to work PR Daily, 18 January 2021
Underselling the Vaccine New York Times, 18 January 2021

About Kim Harrison – author, editor and content curator

Kim Harrison, Founder and Principal of Cutting Edge PR, loves sharing actionable ideas and information about professional communication and business management. He has wide experience as a corporate affairs manager, consultant, author, lecturer, and CEO of a non-profit organization. Kim is a Fellow and former national board member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia, and he ran his State’s professional development program for 7 years, helping many practitioners to strengthen their communication skills. People from 115 countries benefit from the practical knowledge shared in his monthly newsletter and in his books available from cuttingedgepr.com.

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