Public Health Messaging in a Politicized Pandemic

Concurrent Session Block 3: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET Thursday September 17

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Presentation

Communicating about COVID-19 Response Measures in a Volatile Environment
Effective messaging is essential in order to make the legal, policy, or fiscal changes demanded by this pandemic. COVID-19 is top of mind for citizens, public health, health care and local policy makers alike, but people with different political perspectives view COVID differently. In this challenging time, it’s crucial that public health professionals be able to speak productively and meaningfully with people who hold different political perspectives and view complex health issues differently. This session will present research that shows the relationship between our political views and the foundational moral values with which we resonate. Though all of us confront numerous divides ranging from generational to political, the public health workforce can bridge these differences to become trusted messengers and further the health of their communities during this pandemic. This session is designed to benefit both frontline public health workers and organizational managers engaging in law, policy and/or fiscal change.

  • Gene Matthews, Director, Network for Public Health Law—Southeastern Region Office
  • Dawn Hunter, Deputy Director, Network for Public Health Law—Southeastern Region Office
  • Elizabeth Thomas, MPH, Community Engagement Coordinator, North Carolina Institute for Public Health, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health