Principle: Credible and trusted
Technical accuracy
Tactics to apply to make your communications credible and trusted
Ensure technical accuracy
WHO technical and communications teams work together to ensure that all communications products are accurate and deliver a consistent message. Products go through a rigorous cross-checking and clearance process.
Clear and cross-check content
Communicators and technical units follow procedures to ensure the technical accuracy and appropriate presentation of WHO information.
- Technical units must verify all global, regional or country data in the information products that are developed.
- The legal office must clear products that contain legally sensitive material.
- The WHO eManual, section VIII, explains clearance procedures for product planning, content development and production.
- The WHO eManual, section VIII, describes the correct use of logos on products.
- The WHO Style Guide instructs how to present information such as presentation of numbers and references consistently in written products. The adherence to common style protocols contributes to the image of “One WHO”, increasing consistency between products which increases credibility and confidence in the information.
Keep fact sheets up to date
Fact sheets define and profile a disease or other public health topic. When they are easy to understand and up to date, fact sheets reinforce decision-makers’ trust in WHO information.
When a topic is in the news, relevant fact sheets are highlighted on the WHO website, which now has approximately 150 fact sheets. Communicators work with technical units to ensure that fact sheets are updated and have accurate information so readers can:
- identify if they are at risk
- understand the scale of the problem
- learn ways they can protect their health and safety
- see how WHO actions reduce the health threat
- recognize the barriers to improvement
- follow overall progress of a health situation.
Maintain version control
WHO tracks versions of its message and other information products to ensure it presents the most current and relevant information. Communicators should use tracking systems to:
- maintain internal consistency of information
- manage and update content on the website
- manage document translations on the website.
