Work

Coordination and multivocality in the communication of uncertainty across different trust contexts

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: A crisis always comes with uncertainty, which is often increased by changing guidelines or rules, and multiple actors communicating their perspectives. This exploratory qualitative study examines the role of a coordinated and multivocal approach to address uncertainty during a global crisis and generates assumptions for future research. Through semi-structured interviews with communication professionals and community actors involved in health crises, we investigate how uncertainty was managed in three trust contexts—Germany, Italy, and Romania—during COVID-19. The analysis shows how uncertainty was perceived during the pandemic, and we propose ideas for future research and crisis management regarding coordination, multivocality, and acknowledgment of uncertainty, which were revealed as preferred strategies.

Source: Crisis and Risk Communication

DOI: 10.1080/29986907.2026.2725648

Authors: Sebastian Cole, Øyvind Ihlen

Institution: University of Oslo

Language: English

Topic: Public Relations and Crisis Communication

Subfield: Communication

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: European Commission, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme

Awards: Preparedness for society in health crises and disasters, G8632289941