2020 Competition: Successful Communication During Disruptive, Crisis Situations

2020 Competition: Successful Communication During Disruptive, Crisis Situations

TRB 14th Annual communicating Concepts with

John and Jane Q. Public Competition

Successful Communication During Disruptive, Crisis Situations

In the last few years, various type of disasters have rocked our world – from hurricanes, floods, deadly wildfires, tornados and earthquakes, to the recent Coronavirus pandemic which has drastically impacted all modes of transportation and sent the majority of our work force to shelter at home. These disruptions have significantly affected the safety, resiliency, and very survival of our transportation system, as well as the daily lives of the traveling public and the industries that depend on our worldwide supply chain.

• How have transportation providers prepared for and reacted from a communications standpoint during these emergency situations?

• What existing crisis communications plans or techniques have we put into place to successfully weather these storms?

• What lessons have we learned to be better prepared to communicate with transportation system users, communities, and stakeholders before, during and after the next unexpected disruptive event?

• What measures did we use to determine if our communications efforts were successful?

To answer these types of questions, the Transportation Research Board’s Committee on Public Engagement and Communications established the John and Jane Q. Public Competition in 2007 to seek and share best practices and innovative approaches in communicating complex transportation information to the public. The winning entries, which are judged and selected by a panel of transportation and communications professionals, will be featured at the TRB 100th Annual Meeting, now to be conducted virtually during January 2021. Winning entries also will be featured in an edition of TRB’s transportation research news magazine, TRNews.

Who can submit an entry? Individuals, agencies, and companies working for agencies that communicate transportation finance and related policy solutions

How to submit an entry? Complete the submission form.

What topic areas will be covered? Examples of how transportation finance and related policy solutions are communicated to the general public (see the competition web page for examples of winning entries)

When are entries due? DEADLINE EXTENDED to August 16, 2020 (winners will be notified in early October)

For more information contact: Pam Lebeaux at pam.lebeaux@wsp.com or (609) 512-3568, the competition flyer can be found below.