Information to the public, the media, and the population in the event of a nuclear incident; an important component of nuclear emergency management

In the case of a nuclear incident, information is obtained from the plant operator and via the monitoring systems of the authorities. Information is passed on to the authorities (confidential area of communication) and to the media and the population (largely more accessible area of communication). Within the authorities, alongside the processing of information (actual situation, prognosis, evaluation, issuing of recommendations), an exchange of information takes place on the national, bilateral, supranational and international levels. The authorities inform those in political circles (the government), and via them, parliament and the general public (the media and the population). The informing of the public occurs directly (via, alongside other means, Videotext, T-Online and Internet), and also, via the mass media (press, radio, television). There are a number of problems which can only be solved with difficulty or, possibly, only on a more long-term basis. These lie in the areas of supply of and demand for information, communication, and preception and selection of information within the population. (orig.)