Communication plan

On March 12, 2011, a tsunami hit Japan with tremendous force, killing thousands of people and annihilating communities. You, like many others around the world, may have watched this event unfold due to the open access to social media. People were able to find loved ones and communicate large amounts of information within a short period of time (Blackburn, 2011).

Now, imagine the impact social media can have upon disseminating information about public health issues and for public health campaigns. Consider the scope of people who you might reach through this one type of communication medium and how you might impact the world by disseminating messages through social media.

For this Application Assignment, consider contemporary social media tools and other communication technology tools you referred to in your discussion that are available to you. Think about which tools could provide your public health campaign the greatest scope and which social media tools might be most appropriate for the public health issue you selected. Also, consider the population you may be interested in reaching, and how social media may be best utilized for that population.

Reference:

Blackburn, B. (2011). Japan earthquake and tsunami: Social media spreads news, raises relief funds. ABC World News. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/japan-earthquake-tsunami-drive-social-media-dialogue/story?id=13117677

Submit the assignment: Part II: Communication Tools (3-4 pages).

Using the Communication Plan Guidelines handout in this week's Required Resources, complete Part II of your Communication Plan.

Support your Application Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are to provide a reference list for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course.

Your written assignments must follow APA guidelines. Refer to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association to ensure your in-text citations and reference list are correct.

Readings
· Course Text: Health Communication in the New Media Landscape
 
o Chapter 9, "Engaging Consumers in Health Care Advocacy Using the Internet"
o Chapter 16, "New Media: A Third Force in Health Care"
· Article: Eytan, T., Benabio, J., Golla, V., Parikh, R., & Stein, S. (2011). Social media and the health system. The Permanente Journal, 15(1), 71-74.

Retrieved from the Walden databases.
· Article: Social media is the message for occ health. (2011). Hospital Employee Health, 30(6), 63-65.

Copyright 2011 by AHC MEDIA LLC. Reprinted by permission of AHC MEDIA LLC via the Copyright Clearance Center.
· Article: DeMers, J. (2014) Top 10 Benefits of Social Media Marketing . Forbes. Retrieved from:http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2014/08/11/the-top-10-benefits-of-social-media-marketing/#6b4e98a02a4d

Communication Plan Guidelines

Your Communication Plan is the document which outlines all the elements of your public health campaign to help guide you in its facilitation. Please use this document as an outline to complete your Communication Plan. Use the learning resources and the current literature to support your Communication Plan.

Part I: Public Health Campaign (3-4 pages)

• Briefly describe the public health issue you selected and justify your selection.

• Identify the audience you wish to target .

• Justify the target audience you selected.

• Briefly describe and justify the theory in which you will use to support your campaign.

• Explain the initial methods you plan to use to create your public health campaign and explain why you selected those methods.

• Briefly describe your goals for implementing a public health campaign (creating social change, changing behavior, increasing awareness, etc.).

Part II: Communication Tools (2-3 pages)

• Describe and justify the types of communication and social media tools you would like to use in the dissemination of your campaign.

• Explain two reasons why the tools you selected are appropriate for your target audience.

• Explain two ways you might adjust your public health message based on the type of social media you may use in your public health campaign.

• Explain three reasons why it may be necessary to adjust your message depending upon age, community, and potential literacy levels of your target audience.

• Describe two ways you plan to market your public health campaign.

Part III: Engage Target Audience/Communities (3-4 pages)

• Briefly describe your target audience or community you selected for your public health campaign.

• Briefly explain ways you might involve your target audience in the public health campaign.

• Briefly describe two ways you will promote public relations with your target audience or community.

• Briefly explain the behavior change you are hoping to facilitate among your target audience and explain the key benefits for the target audience to change their behavior.

• Briefly describe potential stakeholders, community leaders, collaborative partners, or gate-keepers who may help you disseminate the message and encourage behavior change.

• Briefly explain two ways stakeholders might change or impact the planning or implementation process of the public health campaign.

• Briefly describe two potential barriers or challenges to accessing your target audience and explain why they are barriers or challenges.

• Explain two ways you might address those barriers.

Part IV: Implementation & Evaluation (3-4 pages)

• Briefly explain how you plan to implement your public health campaign including timeline/milestones and marketing strategies.

• Briefly explain your public health message and justify why you believe it would promote change within your target audience.

• Briefly explain three ways your public health campaign may be adopted within your target audience.

• Briefly explain how you would incorporate culturally relevant and sensitive materials in your campaign.

• Explain two potential legal or ethical issues that you may have to consider prior to implementing your campaign and explain two ways you might address those issues.

• Explain the methods you plan to use to evaluate the effectiveness of your campaign.

• Explain two ways your public health campaign can promote social change.