The Albula/Alvra municipal management team has conducted a risk dialogue on the Brienz landslide since 2019. The residents of the mountain village of Brienz/Brinzauls and the general public are being kept fully informed about the significant landslide and the measures taken by the municipality and are involved in a dialogue. When the village had to be evacuated in the summer of 2023, dialogue-based crisis communication began, with those affected at the centre of all measures.
A distinguished international jury, comprising communications experts from renowned universities and companies, has acknowledged the municipality of Albula/Alvra's exceptional measures with a nomination for the international German PR Award. Swiss communications expert Christian Gartmann is responsible for the municipal management team's risk dialogue and crisis communication. He designed and implemented a risk dialogue on the natural hazards of the major Brienz landslide and the comprehensive measures taken by the municipality and the canton of Graubünden. In the risk dialogue, those affected always have the opportunity to talk to the municipal management team and its experts, ask questions and express their needs.
In the summer of 2023, the village of Brienz/Brinzauls and its population faced an unprecedented crisis. The impending landslide and the subsequent evacuation, which lasted several weeks, drew media attention from four continents. Amidst this global spotlight, the management team's communication efforts remained steadfastly focused on the residents and those affected in the village's vicinity, demonstrating the importance of their crisis communication strategy.
The international German PR prize has been awarded by the German PR association DPRG since 1970. It is considered the most important prize for communication in the German-speaking world. The 2024 award ceremony will take place on 16 May in Hanover. Three projects have been nominated in the "Issues - Conflicts - Crises" category.
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