In a health crisis, the media has the power to save lives. Effective communication can help to prevent or reduce the spread of disease, and guide those affected towards health services and treatment. This manual provides tips for media practitioners on how to help audiences during health emergencies. It was created by BBC Media Action for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies as part of the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme.

BBC Media Action offers additional manuals for humanitarians on working with broadcasters and on media programming for communities affected by humanitarian crises on its website.

This guide is available in a wide range of additional languages (Armenian, Azeri, Bahasa, Bangla, Belarusian, French, Georgian, Romanian, Swahili, Russian, Ukrainian) on BBC Media Action's Lifeline Programming website.