Communications Audit

Communication Audits are a research procedure used to determine whether an organization’s

communications are consistent with its values-driven mission and goals.

The audit is completed through a review of the organization’s communications.A complete

analysis of how an organization communicates – internal, external or both. We will focus on
the external.

Creates a picture of communication needs, policies, practices and capabilities. Can uncover
necessary information to allow to management to make informed decisions about future
objectives of the organization’s communications.

A communication audit can also:

Assess effectiveness of communication activities

Evaluate relevance of communication vehicles

Determine whether audiences have received and understood key messages

The audit should answer five questions:

1. What are the organization’s stated goals in relation to its target audience?

2. What communication activities has the organization used to fulfill those goals?

3. Which communication activities are working well and are consistent with those goals?

4. Which communication activities are not working well toward the achievement of those
goals?

5. Given the findings of this audit, what revisions in goals or communication activities are
recommended?

The time to do a communication audit is not after you have detected a problem, but as a part
of normal monitoring.