A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Public trust in governments´ communicating with intermediaries : Finnish and Swedish Governments during the COVID-19 pandemic (2023)

Valentini, C., & Badham, M. (2023). Public trust in governments´ communicating with intermediaries : Finnish and Swedish Governments during the COVID-19 pandemic. In R. Tench, J. Meng, & Á. Moreno (Eds.), Strategic Communication in a Global Crisis : National and International Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic (pp. 165-183). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003184669-16

JYU authors or editors

Valentini, Chiara
Badham, Mark

Publication details

All authors or editors: Valentini, Chiara; Badham, Mark

Parent publication: Strategic Communication in a Global Crisis : National and International Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Parent publication editors: Tench, Ralph; Meng, Juan; Moreno, Ángeles

ISBN: 978-1-032-02695-4

eISBN: 978-1-003-18466-9

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 20/10/2022

Pages range: 165-183

Number of pages in the book: 390

Publisher: Routledge

Place of Publication: London

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003184669-16

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/93426

Abstract

During the first wave of the pandemic in 2020, the Finnish and Swedish governments followed two very contrasting COVID-19 approaches. Using a ‘test, trace, isolate and treat’ strategy, the Finnish government adopted a hybrid approach which saw relatively heavy government intervention to contain community transmission. The Swedish government adopted a de facto ‘herd immunity’ approach in which relatively light government intervention resulted in higher community transmission. These two approaches shaped the way the Finnish and Swedish governments communicated COVID-19 messages as well as the way people perceived their government’s handling of the pandemic and their subsequent behavioural responses.

Particularly, this chapter examines public trust in these governments as a source of information and the role of - and public trust in - intermediaries as government stakeholders in the COVID-19 communication process. Trust in government is vital during major health crises as it affects the way the public responds to government recommendations about the way they should behave, such as social distancing and mask-wearing measures. This study shows that public perceptions in both countries were overall positive and public trust in the respective authorities remained high. The chapter concludes with recommendations for government health communicators on how to use strategic communication to build and manage public trust.

Keywords: pandemics; COVID-19; strategies; experiences (knowledge); communication; political decision making; governments (countries); public authorities; citizens