[ RadSafe ] re: Communicating with the public and the press

[Joel Cehn]

Otto's right about avoiding words, but he cites the wrong words.? Research has shown that when you say "not dangerous" some people just hear "dangerous"--not the result that you want.? When you say "safe," you don't have that problem.? And the meaning is the same.


Joel I. Cehn, CHP
Oakland, California
joelc at alum.wpi.edu

Subject: [ RadSafe ] Communicating with the public and the press


> August? 18, 2008
>
> When speaking with the public, Congress, or the press, there are two 
> four-letter words that we should carefully avoid: "RISK" and "DOSE".
>
> To the public these words mean and imply very different negative ideas 
> than what we intend. We can substitute "CHANCE" and "LEVELS" to replace 
> them.
>
> This is the "risk communication" message we need to deliver:
>
> "Low levels of ionizing radiation are not hazardous, not dangerous, and 
> not a threat! "
>
> Otto
>
>