Communication Strategies in Public Health

Registration Closed

Wednesdays, June 10, June 17, and June 24, 9am-3pm

Designing communication strategies to support a public health intervention is a multifaceted and complex skill, which requires careful preparation, logical thinking, and creativity, at the same time being based in theory and evidence. There is no recipe to follow, but rather a set of interrelated issues to consider when developing a coherent and workable plan. The planning process is highly creative and interactive.  In order to produce a communication plan that is strategic, effective, and practical it requires collaborative thinking and thorough research.

This program focuses on the development and execution of a planned communications strategy for a public health organization that is responsible for a community-based intervention.  The program also features a review of basic theory and research that can inform the health communications process.  Participants will identify a public health intervention for which they want to develop an accompanying communication plan.  Participants will also develop a communications strategy and prepare several media executions to advance the communications strategy, which may include a pitch letter with infographic, press release, commentary/editorial, letter to the editor/online blog, scheduled press event, social media platform (i.e., Twitter feeds, Facebook pages), interview, elevator pitch, video, and prototype of a mobile app.

While the ultimate communication strategy has to support the chosen intervention in a targeted way and be feasible to implement given resources, learners will be exposed to a variety of communication techniques to apply to other interventions and contexts.

PHX provides a 25 percent discount to students, SPH alumni, and BU faculty and staff. We will also offer a 25 percent discount for any resident of upper-middle-income countries, lower-middle-income countries and low-income countries (“LMIC” based on the World Bank Classification).

Individuals registering for more than one paid program at full price will receive a 15 percent discount (use coupon “2ormore”). A 15 percent discount is also offered to organizations sending three or more paid program participants (Contact us at phx@bu.edu for more information).

(Please note discounts cannot be combined)