Theorizing Crisis Communication / Edition 1

by Timothy L. Sellnow, Matthew W. Seeger

Overview

Theorizing Crisis Communication presents a comprehensive review and critique of the broad range of theoretical frameworks designed to explain the role of communication in the development, management, and consequences of natural and man-made crises.

• Brings together the variety of theoretical approaches emerging in the study of crisis communication into one volume for the first time.
• Summarizes theories from such diverse perspectives as rhetoric, risk management, ethics, mass communication, social media, emergency response, crisis outcomes, and warning systems, while presenting clear examples of how the theory is applied in crisis communication research
• Presents theoretical frameworks generated by research from many disciplines including sociology, psychology, applied anthropology, public health, public relations, political science, organizational studies, and criminal justice
• An essential tool for a comprehensive understanding of the onset, management, response, resolution, and ultimate meaning of these devastating world events

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780470659304
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	03/11/2013
Series:	Foundations of Communication Theory Series , #2
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Timothy L. Sellnow is Professor of Communication and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in Communication at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Sellnow’s interdisciplinary research on risk and crisis communication appears in an array of refereed journals, handbooks, and edited volumes. He has also co-authored five books on risk and crisis communication. Dr. Sellnow frequently serves as a consultant for Fortune 500 companies in the food industry and government agencies such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on risk and crisis communication planning.

Matthew W. Seeger is Dean of the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts and a Professor of Communication at Wayne State University in Detroit. His work on crisis, risk and communication has appeared in over 100 journal articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings. Seeger is the author or co-author of six books on organizational communication ethics and crisis and risk communication. Dr. Seeger also frequently serves as an advisor to the auto industry, manufacturing organizations and government agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on topics related to crisis management.

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Foreword xi

1 Introduction to Crisis Communication 1

Defining Crisis 4

Defining Communication 12

Plan for This Book 19

Conclusion 20

2 Theorizing about Crisis and Crisis Communication 21

Critiquing Theory 31

Conclusion 32

3 Theories of Communication and Warning 33

Detection of Risks 34

Warnings 36

Hear-Confirm-Understand-Decide-Respond Model 44

Applications of the Hear-Confirm-Understand-Decide-Response Model 46

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Hear-Confirm-Understand-Decide-Response Model 47

Protective Action Decision Model 48

Applications of the PADM 52

Strengths and Weaknesses of the PADM 54

Integrated Model of Food Recall 55

Applications of the Integrated Model of Food Recall 58

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Integrated Model of Food Recall 58

Emerging Warning Systems 59

Conclusion 61

4 Theories of Communication and Crisis Development 63

Assumptions of Stage Models 66

Three-Stage Model 69

Applications of the Three-Stage Model 71

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Three-Stage Model 72

Fink’s Four-Stage Cycle 72

Applications of Fink’s Four-Stage Cycle 74

Strengths and Weaknesses of Fink’s Four-Stage Cycle 75

Turner’s Six-Stage Sequence of Failure in Foresight 76

Applications of Turner’s Six-Stage Sequence of Failure in Foresight 78

Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication 79

Applications of CERC 80

Strengths and Weaknesses of CERC 84

Conclusion 85

5 Theories of Communication and Crisis Outcomes 87

Organizational Learning 88

Sensemaking 94

Organizational Legitimacy 98

Balance Theory 102

Stealing Thunder 105

Situational Crisis Communication Theory 108

Discourse of Renewal 113

Conclusion 117

6 Theories of Communication and Emergency Coping and Response 119

Assumptions of Communication and Emergency Response 121

Chaos Theory and Emergent Self-Organization 122

Theories of Communication and Crisis Coordination 128

Communication and Community Resilience 137

Four-Channel Model of Communication 148

Integrated Crisis Mapping Model 153

Conclusion 155

7 Theories of Crisis Communication and Legacy Media 157

The Legacy Mass Media 159

News Framing Theory 160

Focusing Events and Agenda Setting 163

Exemplification Theory 168

Uses and Gratifications Theory 171

Cultivation Theory 175

Media System Dependency Theory 178

Crisis News Diffusion 182

Diffusion of Innovations 185

Conclusion 189

8 Theories about Social Media and Crisis Communication 192

Social Information Processing Theory 196

Warranting Theory 198

The MAIN Model 201

Dialogic Theory of Public Relations 204

Social-Mediated Crisis Communication Model 208

Emerging Theories of Social Media in Crisis Communication 211

Conclusion 212

9 Theories of Influence and Crisis Communication 213

Apologia 215

Image Repair 218

Kategoria 223

Dramatism 227

Narrative Theory 231

Message Convergence Framework 234

Conclusion 237

10 Theories of Communication and Risk Management 239

Social Amplification of Risk Framework 242

Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model 245

Mindfulness 248

High Reliability Organizations 252

The Precautionary Principle 258

Cultural Theory 262

The IDEA Model 266

Conclusion 270

11 Theories of Crisis Communication and Ethics 271

Ethics 272

Crisis Communication as an Ethical Domain 275

Responsible Communication 278

Significant Choice 280

The Ethic of Care 282

Virtue Ethics 284

Justice 286

Applications of Moral Theory to Crisis 287

Conclusion 292

12 Applying Theories of Crisis Communication 293

Choosing a Theory 294

The Rationale for Asking Question 295

Questions Focusing of Ontology 295

Questions Focusing on Axiology 297

Questions Focusing on Epistemology 298

Selecting a Data Set and Method 300

Selecting Literature for Review 302

Forming Conclusions and Implications of Research 303

The Practicality of Theory in Understanding Crisis

Communication 304

Persistent Challenges 305

Invisible Success 305

Global Causation 306

Insufficient Instruction for Self-Protection 306

Persistent Opportunities 307

New Perspectives for Study 308

A Final Word 310

References 311

Index 348

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Laudable in its reach, comprehensive in its scope, and impressive in its implications, Sellnow and Seeger have made a remarkable contribution to our understanding of crisis communication as a theoretical construct.”
Keith Hearit, University of Western Michigan

“This book provides a successful distillation of the disparate works on crisis communication into a coherent field of study and practice. A must-read for scholars, practitioners, and students alike.”
Dennis Mileti, University of Colorado

“Sellnow and Seeger have added another clear, comprehensive, and useful statement on the foundations of crisis communication. Of special importance, they ground their book on the interconnections of crisis and risk which produces a powerful marriage of two robust bodies of research, theory and practice of communication and management.”
Robert Heath, University of Houston

Editorial Reviews

The glory of Theorizing Crisis Communicationis in its concise synthesis of multiple theoretical perspectives into overarching categories. Every major theory presented is accompanied by an insightful discussion of strengths and weaknesses. Sellnow and Seeger have crafted a text that should encourage researchers to examine crises from a variety of perspectives and inspire inquiry that ties research to practice.”  (International Journal of Communication, 1 May 2014)

"This is not a handbook for a crisis practitioner, but a rich resource for those interested in the theoretical underpinnings of communication before, during, and after a crisis.  Summing Up.  Recommended.  Upper-division undergraduate, graduate, and research collections.”  (Choice, 1 September 2013)

From the Publisher