Greek Government’s Communication Approach During the Covid-19 First Wave

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Опубликован: Dec 29, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/hapscpbs.26452
Charalambos Tsekeris
National Centre for Social Research (EKKE)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3304-5331
George Efthymiou
Аннотация
The present policy brief draws from an empirical dissertation research, which took place during the outburst of the Covid-19 pandemic, in Athens, Greece. The main assumption of this interdisciplinary work is that Greek government’s Covid-19 emergency communication and crisis management approach (during the first wave of the pandemic) can be described by the Pragmatic Complexity Communication Model (PCOM), according to which communication involves an emergent complexity of reciprocal relationships and levels of interaction. This assumption is examined and validated through a qualitative research process, using an online open-ended questionnaire and focusing on a group of government officials and a group of correspondent journalists. The subsequent analysis also highlights the intimate links between government’s emergency communication (and crisis management) approach and the so-called “reformist culture”, that is, an extrovert, pluralist and anti-populist way of government, emphasising preparedness, collaboration, consistency, coordination, trust and community. This results in specific policy considerations and recommendations regarding governmental Covid-19 response in general.
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Биографии авторов
Charalambos Tsekeris, National Centre for Social Research (EKKE)
Research Fellow (Assistant Professor rank), National Centre for Social Research (EKKE), Athens, Greece; Professor Extraordinary, School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University; Academic Director, European Communication Institute
George Efthymiou
Journalist, Deputy Head of Prime Minister’s Press Office, Hellenic Republic; MA in Content Marketing and Communication Strategy, Danube University Krems (Donau-Universität Krems), Austria
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