---
id: "coronavirus-smarter-crowdsourcing:strategies/Governments-should-keep-messaging-consistent-and-e"
type: "GovLab policy strategy"
title: "Governments should keep messaging consistent and explain changes when they are made."
url: "https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/strategies/governments-should-keep-messaging-consistent-and-e"
summary: "Governments should keep messaging consistent and explain changes when they are made."
source: "The GovLab (coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org)"
licence: "Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)"
---

# Governments should keep messaging consistent and explain changes when they are made.

Governments should keep messaging consistent and explain changes when they are made.

- Timeframe: 1-3 Months (immediate)
- Type: Communications
- Recommendation: [Evidence and misinformation](https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/recommendations/evidence-and-misinformation)
- Part of: [Smarter Crowdsourcing in the Age of Coronavirus](https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/)

## Actions governments should take

1. Review guidance at predictable and publicized intervals. If guidance needs to change, communicate why it needs to change.
2. Prioritize communications from trusted leaders at a consistent time and in a consistent format.
3. [Use credible sources and use them consistently (see strategy on evidence and credibility)](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DzmSxBT6rqoewafUMNmdEHmjYREZ0bLnqr4JCIP1ZgE/edit#heading=h.g2kgkwezebr7)
4. Be transparent and communicate openly about the frequency of when guidance is reviewed. This will prime the population that guidance may change based on the changing circumstances.
5. Acknowledge that the message has been updated if the public health guidance changes.
6. Designate a spokesperson to establish credibility, convey confidence and maintain consistency.

## Examples from around the world

1. [In Ireland the prime minister appointed a communications expert to coordinate public messaging. The government also delivered a booklet with basic information on COVID-19 to every household thus ensuring everyone received the same consistent and reliable information on symptoms and instructions on how to self-isolate. The Irish Health Minister, serves as a consistent and reliable spokesperson, briefing the public every night at 7pm on relevant COVID-19 information and answers questions via facebook.](https://theconversation.com/clear-consistent-health-messaging-critical-to-stemming-epidemics-and-limiting-coronavirus-deaths-134529)