Communications expert warns mixed messaging from governor could cost Florida COVID cases

Mixed marks, that’s what some say Florida’s governor gets for his messaging during the coronavirus pandemic.

Communications experts believe he’s struggled to manage reopen expectations.

COMMUNICATIONS EXPERTS BELIEVEHE HAS STRUGGLED TO MANAGEREOPENING EXPECTATIONS.

AND ASCAPITOL REPORTER FORRESTSAUNDERS EXPLAINS &IT MIGHTEVEN BE SLOWING FLORIDAREBOUND.<< ASSISTANT PROFESSOR JOSHSCACCO SAYS GOVERNOR DESANTISHAS A MESSAGE PROBLEM.

(ASST.PROF. JOSH SCACCO, UNIVERSITYOF SOUTH FLORIDA)“IT HASFLUCTUATED AT TIMES BETWEEN AREALISM AND OPTIMISM” (PROF2:28) THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHFLORIDA POLITICALCOMMUNICATIONS EXPERT SAYSDESANTIS IS PAINTING TOO ROSYA PICTURE OF FLORIDAREOPENING&“WEDOWN” (GOV 6/16 30:00) &ONLYTO LATER ROLLBACK LOOSENEDRESTRICTIONS.

THIS HAPPENINGTWO WEEKS AGO WHEN DESANTISDEFIANTLY SAID ...“WEROLLING BACK6/16 - 30:35) ONLY TO HAVE HISADMINISTRATION RESTRICTALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AT BARSTEN DAYS LATER AS CASES SURGED.(GOV.

RON DESANTIS, (R)FLORIDA)“WECONTINUE TO TAKE ACTION TOPROTECT THOSE WHO ARE MOSTVULNERABLE TO THIS VIRUS”(GOV FL CH)“BALANCING THATPARTICULAR MESSAGEOPTIMISM WITH THE REALITIES OFWHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY ISSOMETHING MANY POLITICALLEADERSPARTICULAR TIMES” (PROF 5:58)SCACCO SAYS AMID A PANDEMIC,THIS KIND OF THING COULD BEDANGEROUSSIGHTING MASKS.

RESEARCHSUGGESTS 80% NEED TO WEAR THEMIN PUBLIC TO CONTAIN VIRUSSPREADHAS CONSISTENTLY RECOMMENDEDUSESTATE ORDER IS NEEDED.

ANDHEPRESS BRIEFINGS.“WALK UP NA”6/29“STATEWIDE SUPPORT FORWEARING MASKS IS SOMEWHERE INTHE 75-80% RANGE.

ITTHAT CUSP//BY THE GOVERNORMODELING THAT TYPE OFBEHAVIOR, IT COULD POTENTIALLYINCREASE THE NUMBER OFINDIVIDUALS COMPLYING” (PROF4:35//5:07) MIXED MESSAGINGALSO LIKELY COST DESANTISFAVORABILITY... UNIVERSITY OFNORTH FLORIDA POLLS SHOWED AMASSIVE 72% APPROVAL RATINGLAST OCTOBER.

DOWN TO 51% BYAPRILAFTER DESANTIS ISSUED A SAFERAT HOME ORDER (APRIL 1)OF THE LAST TO DO SO&FOLLOWING WEEKS OF SAYINGLOCAL CONTROL WAS A BETTERCHOICE.“WESTATEDIFFERENT SITUATION” (GOV23:17 MAR 31) SCACCO BELIEVESDESANTIS HAS STARTED MANAGINGEXPECTATIONS MORE IN RECENTNEWS BRIEFINGSHONESTY ON RECENT BUDGET CUTS.BUT ONLY TIME WILL TELL IFTHAT HOLDS TRUE IN THE COMINGMONTHS AS FLORIDA CONTINUES TOTRY AND RECOVER FROM COVID-19.SOC