• P-ISSN 0974-6846 E-ISSN 0974-5645

Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Article

Communication strategy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government in Pandemic: a case study of Corona virus (COVID-19)
  • VIEWS 1409
  • PDF 336

Indian Journal of Science and Technology

DOI: 10.17485/IJST/v13i22.616

Year: 2020, Volume: 13, Issue: 22, Pages: 2175-2181

Original Article

Communication strategy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government in Pandemic: a case study of Corona virus (COVID-19)

Sajjad Ali1∗, Ata Ul Haq2 , Sardar Hamid3 , Afrasiab4

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Dir Lower, KP
2 Press Registrar in Information and Public Relations Department, KP and PhD Scholar, Ripha Institute of Media Science, Ripha International University, Al-Meezan Campus Rawalpindi
3 Assistant in Information and Public Relations Department, KP and PhD Scholar, Ripha Institute of Media Science, Ripha International University, Al-Meezan Campus Rawalpindi
4 Assistant in Information and Public Relations Department, KP and M.Phil Scholar, Islamic International University, Islamabad

∗Corresponding author:
Sajjad Ali
Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Dir Lower, KP
Email: [email protected]

Received Date:15 May 2020, Accepted Date:10 June 2020, Published Date:24 June 2020

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Objective: In every country, authorities develop strategies for the awareness, education and information at the time of a crisis. This study explored the communication strategies of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Government of Pakistan during the Corona virus (COVID-19)pandemic. Methods: Data was collected from the information department of KP. Secondary data was analyzed which was collected from the main information department Peshawar and the regional offices: Mardan, Abatabad, DI Khan, Malakand and Swat. Data was presented in a tabulated form in frequency distribution. Findings: The information department has used all type of methods, tactics and sources of information for the education, awareness and information of the public regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) and made it possible to control the outbreak to a greater extent. KP government used all kind of media communication strategies including print media, radio, information departments, social media, videos and public service message for creating awareness among public. Recommendations: It is recommended that KP government until now has applied impressive communication strategies. It has been suggested to the government to use local influential public figures and places for the awareness of the people to overcome and control the pandemic.

Keywords: Coronavirus (COVID-19); communication strategies; tactics; methods; sources of information; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Pakistan

References

  1. Tang N, Bai H, Chen X, Gong J, Li D, Sun Z. Anticoagulant treatment is associated with decreased mortality in severe coronavirus disease 2019 patients with coagulopathy. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 2020;18(5):1094–1099. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jth.14817
  2. Tang N, Li D, Wang X, Sun Z. Abnormal coagulation parameters are associated with poor prognosis in patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 2020;18(4):844–851. Available from: https://doi:10.1111/jth.14768
  3. Savoia E, Lin L, Viswanath K. Communications in Public Health Emergency Preparedness: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science. 2013;11(3):170–184. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1089/bsp.2013.0038
  5. Stavridis JG. Strategic communication and national security. UNITED STATES SOUTHERN COMMAND MIAMI FL. 2007.
  7. Lewis LK, Russ TL. Soliciting and Using Input During Organizational Change Initiatives. Management Communication Quarterly. 2012;26:267–294. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0893318911431804
  8. Coombs WT. Sage Publications. 2014.
  9. Fink S. Crisis management: Planning for the inevitable. American Management Association. 1986.
  11. Zaremba AJ. MS., ed. Crisis Communication: Theory and Practice. (pp. 244) 2010.
  12. Coronavirus. (accessed ) Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus.DateAccessed
  13. Pakistan confirms first two cases of coronavirus, govt says 'no need to panic. (accessed ) Available from: https://www.dawn.com/news/amp/1536792Daily
  14. COVID-19 Daily Situation Report-NIH Islamabad. (accessed ) Available from: https://www.nih.org.pk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/COVID-19
  15. Sandell T, Sebar B, Harris N. Framing risk: Communication messages in the Australian and Swedish print media surrounding the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 2013;41:860–865. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1403494813498158
  16. Olowokure B, Odedere O, Elliot AJ, Awofisayo A, Smit E, Fleming A, et al. Volume of print media coverage and diagnostic testing for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus during the early phase of the 2009 pandemic. Journal of Clinical Virology. 2012;55(1):75–78. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcv.2012.05.013
  17. Klemm C, Das E, Hartmann T. Swine flu and hype: a systematic review of media dramatization of the H1N1 influenza pandemic. Journal of Risk Research. 2016;19(1):1–20.
  18. Pandey A, Patni N, Singh M, Sood A, Singh G. YouTube As a Source of Information on the H1N1 Influenza Pandemic. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2010;38:e1–e3. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2009.11.007
  21. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2013: enforcing bans on tobacco advertising. (accessed ) Available from: https://www.who.int/tobacco/global_report/2013/en/
  22. Kavanaugh AL, Fox EA, Sheetz SD, Yang S, Li LT, Shoemaker DJ, et al. Social media use by government: From the routine to the critical. Government Information Quarterly. 2012;29:480–491. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2012.06.002
  23. Levin B. An epidemic of education policy:(what) can we learn from each other. Comparative education. 1998;34(2):131–172. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/03050069828234
  25. Briand S, Mounts A, Chamberland M. Challenges of global surveillance during an influenza pandemic. Public Health. 2011;125(5):247–256. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2010.12.007
  26. Sharma M, Yadav K, Yadav N, Ferdinand KC. Zika virus pandemic—analysis of Facebook as a social media health information platform. American Journal of Infection Control. 2017;45:301–302. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2016.08.022

Copyright

© 2020 Ali, Haq, Hamid, Afrasiab. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Published By Indian Society for Education and Environment (iSee)

  • 24 June 2020

Year: 2020, Volume: 13, Issue: 22

Article Metrics


Post Graduate Fellowship in Research Communication

More articles

DON'T MISS OUT!

Subscribe now for latest articles and news.