UK - Global Crowd Management Alliance (GCMA) has published Words Matter: The Language of Crowds, a new guide designed to improve how professionals and the public talk about crowds, especially during and after major incidents.
The guide defines key terms used in crowd safety work, highlights common misunderstandings, and offers clear distinctions between proactive crowd management and reactive crowd control. It addresses the media’s role in shaping public perception and calls for greater accuracy and care in the language used to describe crowd-related events.
“Terms like ‘panic’ and ‘stampede’ are often used within minutes of a tragedy,” said Anne Marie Chebib, chair of The United Kingdom Crowd Management Association, a founding partner of GCMA. “But these words are not only vague, they can mislead investigations, distort public understanding, and shift focus away from the systemic causes that must be addressed.”
“Language informs response, policy, and public trust,” said Jacob Worek, speaking on behalf of the GCMA. “When we use clear, accurate terminology rooted in evidence and experience, we not only help prevent future incidents, we also ensure that the dignity of those affected is respected.”
Words Matter was developed by GCMA members through The Control Room, the organisation’s monthly roundtable discussion group. It is intended not only for crowd management professionals, but also for journalists, editors, legal professionals and public authorities who may be called on to describe or explain crowd dynamics in public forums.
