On this page:

Scotland's Exotic Animal Disease Communications Strategy

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Listen

APPENDIX A: ACTION CHECKLIST

Initial actions - suspect stage

Head of Disease Strategy Unit

  • Brief Ministers.
  • Brief MSPs/ MPs with a constituency interest.
  • Inform key internal contacts, including the CCU duty officer.
  • Consider requirement for initial News Release and agree with Head of Communications Rural Affairs and Environment.
  • Convene DSG/ put on stand-by.
  • Take overview of communications requirements and implementation.
  • Consider initial contact with operational partners and disease control stakeholders, and liaise as appropriate.
  • Develop the Key Brief document.
  • Confirm that darksite is ready for activation
  • Establish contact with any LDCC via ROD.

Head of Communications Rural Affairs and the Environment

  • Agree with Head of Disease Strategy Unit the likely levels of dedicated, full-time support from the MDRT and put on standby.
  • Consideration will be given to a Communications Officer being assigned to the Disease Strategy Unit and a Local Communications Officer assigned to any LDCC(s).

Initial actions - on confirmation

Head of Disease Strategy Unit

  • Brief Ministers.
  • Brief MSPs/ MPs with constituency interest.
  • Inform key internal contacts, including the CCU duty officer..
  • Convene DSG ensuring LDCC representation.
  • Agree News Release with MDRT and pass to disease control stakeholders and other UK Administrations.
  • Appoint a Communications Coordinator.

Communications Co-ordinator

  • Oversee the activation of the Scottish Government darksite.
  • Brief relevant information cells (access, economic impact, helpline and website managers).
  • Publicise website address, other official websites, and helpline numbers via News Release.
  • Establish the DAB.
  • Gain awareness of stakeholder organisations communications activities.
  • Liaise with ROD(s) at LDCC(s).
  • Monitor/review overall communications and respond as appropriate.

Head of Communications Rural Affairs and Environment

  • Activate MDRT.
  • Consider Ministerial Press Conference.
  • Respond to media questions.
  • Liaise with other UK Administrations' Press Offices.
  • Decide if the MDRT requires expert support present in responding to media questions, and arrange as and when required.
  • Coordinate specialist media briefings and in liaison with the Communications Coordinator decide timing, participants and key messages.
  • Advise and brief participants for media briefings/interviews.
  • Anticipate requests for photography/filming and requirements/requests for media visits and plan.
  • Monitor/review media reports and advise DSG on handling strategy.

Local Communications Officer

  • Arrange media briefings (with attendance from key officials and relevant local stakeholders when appropriate.)
  • Handle bids for interviews with the ROD and DVM
  • Handle visits from MSPs/media.
  • Close co-ordination with operational partners and local level stakeholders and their press offices.

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Page updated: Wednesday, December 10, 2008