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FAZD Center sponsors risk communications workshop
The FAZD Center sponsored a two-day "train the trainer" workshop how to handle risk communications during an outbreak of an animal disease that threatens the public health or the economy. Twenty-eight communicators participated in the workshop, representing Texas A&M University, Texas TechUniversity, Ohio State University, Iowa State University, Purdue University, Kansas State University, the University of Arizona and the Univeristy of Georgia.
The workshop was held April 24-25 at the La Salle Hotel in downtown Bryan, Texas, near the Texas A&M campus.
The program is designed to give communicators the tools and training they need to provide instruction to communicators in their regions.
Workshop modules included:
- An introduction to animal diseases that are exotic to the United States or that may be transmitted from animals to humans, presented by Dr. Jason Cleere, assistant professor and extension beef cattle specialist with the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University.
- The importance of media relations during a disease outbreak, presented by Suzanne Steel, marketing director for the College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Ohio State University.
- Working with the news media, presented by Kay Ledbetter, assistant news editor and communications specialist with the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center in Amarillo.
- Handling controversial issues, presented by Faith Peppers, news editor with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
- Keeping crises contained, presented by Chris Sigurdson, head of the Agricultural Communications Department at Purdue University.
- Working with television journalists, presented by Sigurdson and Steve Byrns, an assistant professor and extension communications specialist at the Texas A&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center in San Angelo.
Photo: Dr. Jason Cleere of Texas A&M introduces workshop participants to animal diseases that are exotic to the United States or are transmitted from animals to humans.
Photo by Jean Wulfson, digital imaging specialist, Office of the Vice President for Research. Texas A&M University