In a nuclear or radiological emergency, the way information is communicated directly shapes risk perception, public behavior, and the effectiveness of the institutional response.
Marking 40 years since the Chernobyl disaster, Romania’s National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN) organized the workshop “Chernobyl 40: From Accident to Operational Lessons for Crisis Communication” at CIPRIERN, dedicated to journalists and their role as strategic partners in emergency management.
Discussions highlighted that the impact of such an accident is not only technical, but also deeply social and communicational. The lack of communication during the first hours after the Chernobyl accident created an information vacuum that fueled uncertainty, amplified rumors, and led to a loss of control over public perception.
Today, these lessons are incorporated and tested in large-scale international exercises such as ConvEx-3, where communication is assessed as an operational function of emergency response. From ensuring message consistency between institutions to reacting in real time to media pressure and managing information flows, communication is now treated as a critical element for stability and public trust.
“Communication is not just an information tool, but a component of emergency response,” said Petre Min, Head of Emergency Preparedness and Response at CNCAN.
“People do not react to risk itself, but to what they understand is happening. In the absence of clear and rapid communication, perception becomes operational reality,” emphasized Luciana-Elena Petrescu, Romania Country Chapter Lead of the European Association of Communication Directors (EACD).
The workshop also included a practical simulation exercise, during which participants drafted journalistic materials and took part in a simulated press conference under conditions of uncertainty and information pressure, replicating the real dynamics of an emergency situation.
The central message of the event was clear: in a crisis, communication does not merely reflect reality — it defines it.
CNCAN is Romania’s national competent authority in the field of nuclear and radiological safety, responsible for regulation, oversight, and emergency management.
The Center for Information, Training and Response to Radiological and Nuclear Incidents and Events (CIPRIERN) is CNCAN’s specialized structure coordinating preparedness and supporting response efforts in nuclear and radiological emergencies. The center provides training, preparedness exercises, and public communication support, contributing to a coherent response and rapid, responsible public information.