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        The CDC Clear Communication Index
        The CDC Clear Communication Index
        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People The CDC Clear Communication Index
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    The CDC Clear Communication Index
      * Clear Communication Index User Guide
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                Clear Communication Index User Guide
          + What Makes the Index Different?
          + How to Use the Index
          + Developing Effective Communication Products
          + Anatomy of a Material
          + Description and Examples: Part A
                  o BACK
                    Description and Examples: Part A
                  o BACK
                    Clear Communication Index User Guide Description and Examples: Part A
              o One Main Message
              o Location of Main Message
              o Main Message Visual Cues
              o Visual Supports Main Message
              o Call To Action
              o Active voice
              o Common words
              o Bulleted or numbered lists
              o Chunks and headings
              o Important Information Summarized
              o What We Know and Don’t Know
              o The CDC Clear Communication Index Home
          + Description and Examples: Part B
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                    Description and Examples: Part B
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                    Clear Communication Index User Guide Description and Examples: Part B
              o Behavioral Recommendations
              o Why Behavioral Recommendations
              o Specific Directions
              o The CDC Clear Communication Index Home
          + Description and Examples: Part C
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                    Description and Examples: Part C
                  o BACK
                    Clear Communication Index User Guide Description and Examples: Part C
              o Common numbers
              o Number Meaning
              o Mathematical calculations
              o The CDC Clear Communication Index Home
          + Description and Examples: Part D
                  o BACK
                    Description and Examples: Part D
                  o BACK
                    Clear Communication Index User Guide Description and Examples: Part D
              o Risk explained
              o Risks and benefits
              o Probability words and visuals
              o The CDC Clear Communication Index Home
          + Appendix A
          + Appendix B
          + The CDC Clear Communication Index Home
      * Frequently Asked Questions
      * Example Materials
              + BACK
                Example Materials
          + HAI
          + NVDRS
          + Thimerosal
          + The CDC Clear Communication Index Home
      * Index Design Guides
      * Index Widget
      * References for Index Items
              + BACK
                References for Index Items
          + Part A
          + Part B
          + Part C
          + Part D
          + The CDC Clear Communication Index Home
      * Contact Us
      * The CDC Clear Communication Index Home
          The CDC Clear Communication Index
    The CDC Clear Communication Index Home
        Developing Effective Communication Products (Quick Check)
          Developing Effective Communication Products
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        Are You on Track to Know Your Audience?
        No matter how you use the Index, remember it’s just one step in the process of developing effective communication products. It cannot take the place of formative research or pretesting with your intended audience. See Appendix A for an annotated version of this list and related resources. See Appendix B for examples of common audiences for public health communication materials.
         1. Did you identify your intended audience(s)?
            Always consider the audience and what they need and want.
         2. Did you conduct audience research?
            Get to know your audience – don’t guess or assume. Review existing data or gather new data through formative research.
         3. Did you identify your behavioral objective(s) and key messages?
            Define the behavioral objective(s) of the material based on behavioral and communication theory.
         4. Did you determine how your material will be formatted and distributed so that it reaches your audience?
            Consider how your audience will find, receive and use the material. Choose the best format for your audience and the message (written, visual, audio, video). Identify dissemination channels, such as social media, community organizations, websites, and activities that match the audience.
         5. Did you build in time and resources to pretest the material with your intended audience and revise based on feedback?
            This step can be done multiple times, if needed. Remember, even the most robust communication guidelines cannot substitute for pretesting with your intended audience.
      View Page In: PDF [1M]
      Last Reviewed: August 7, 2019
        Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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      home Index Home
      * Clear Communication Index User Guide plus icon
          + What Makes the Index Different?
          + How to Use the Index
          + Developing Effective Communication Products
          + Anatomy of a Material
          + Description and Examples: Part A plus icon
              o One Main Message
              o Location of Main Message
              o Main Message Visual Cues
              o Visual Supports Main Message
              o Call To Action
              o Active voice
              o Common words
              o Bulleted or numbered lists
              o Chunks and headings
              o Important Information Summarized
              o What We Know and Don’t Know
          + Description and Examples: Part B plus icon
              o Behavioral Recommendations
              o Why Behavioral Recommendations
              o Specific Directions
          + Description and Examples: Part C plus icon
              o Common numbers
              o Number Meaning
              o Mathematical calculations
          + Description and Examples: Part D plus icon
              o Risk explained
              o Risks and benefits
              o Probability words and visuals
          + Appendix A
          + Appendix B
      * Frequently Asked Questions
      * Example Materials plus icon
          + HAI
          + NVDRS
          + Thimerosal
      * Index Design Guides
      * Index Widget
      * References for Index Items plus icon
          + Part A
          + Part B
          + Part C
          + Part D
      * Contact Us
          Printer-friendly options
            * Clear Communication Index User Guide [3.66 MB, 36 pages]
            * Full Index Score Sheet [694 KB, 7 pages]
            * Modified Index Score Sheet [685 KB, 7 pages]
          To send comments, questions, or requests about the Index, please use our online form.
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