Crisis communication and risk dialogue nominated for international PR prize for Brienz/Brinzauls

The municipality of Albula/Alvra and Christian Gartmann AG have been nominated for the International German PR Prize 2024. The jury thus honors the risk dialogue and crisis communication for the village of Brienz/Brinzauls and its evacuation last summer. The award ceremony will take place on May 16 in Hanover.

Since 2019, the Albula/Alvra municipal management team has been conducting a risk dialogue on Brienz slip. The residents of the mountain village of Brienz/Brinzauls and the public are comprehensively informed about the large landslide and the measures taken by the municipality and are involved in a dialogue. When the village had to be evacuated in summer 2023, dialogue-based crisis communication began, which focused on those affected.

An international jury of communication experts from universities and companies has honored the measures taken by the municipality of Albula/Alvra with the nomination for the International German PR Prize. Graubünden communications expert Christian Gartmann is responsible for risk dialogue and crisis communication among community management staff. He designed and implemented a risk dialogue on the natural hazards of the large Brienz landslide and the comprehensive measures taken by the municipality and the canton of Grisons.

In the risk dialogue, those affected always have the opportunity to exchange ideas with the community management staff and their experts, ask questions and report their needs. In the summer of 2023, the village of Brienz/Brinzauls and its population were suddenly brought into the international spotlight. Media from several dozen countries on four continents reported on the impending rock slide and the evacuation of the village lasting several weeks.

In addition to media relations, management communication has always focused on residents and those affected in the area surrounding the village. The international German PR prize has been awarded by the German PR company DPRG since 1970. It is considered the most important prize for communication in the German-speaking area. The 2024 award ceremony will take place on May 16 in Hanover. Three projects have been nominated in the “Issues — Conflicts — Crises” category.