Reading Summary 11 - The crisis with no name - Sylvia Kearney

Reading Summary 11 by Sylvia Kearney November 19, 2013

Reference: Liu, B., & Pompper, D. (2012). The crisis with no name: Defining the interplay of culture, ethnicity, and race on organizational issues and media outcomes. “Journal Of Applied Communication Research,” 40(2), 127-146. doi:10.1080/00909882.2012.654499

Statement: It is important in Crisis Communication to know and understand the diversity of population groups that will be addressed. Prior to crisis and risk communication, it is vital to understand what population groups are going to be exposed to the crisis the most.

Summary: When a crisis occurs, what are the best practices used in communicating a crisis that involves issues of culture, ethnicity or race? This article states that, “ from 1980-2020 the minority portion of the US workforce is projected to double from 18% to 37%. There are 7 principles of complex systems that can affect crisis communication and management:

·      Interacting agents – are people, organizations, and/or entire industry groups that interact in open systems during the crisis communication or management process.

·      Adaptability – suggests that interactions among agents alter the complex system over time, which ultimately contributes to crisis probability.

·      Self-organization – is the process through which agents learn from their interactions.

·      Instability – indicates that complex systems are constantly evolving.

·      Influences of history – states that present behaviors are contextually situated.

·      Permeable boundaries – indicate that organizations cannot easily separate themselves from the environment in which they operate.

·      Irreducibility – suggests that complex systems are more than the sum of their parts.

Comment: I truly believe that it takes a lot of experience to become a communicator that can not only report about a crisis, but also manages the crisis at the same time, especially if it involves issues with culture, race or ethnicity. Risk Mapping, would be a crucial component to a crisis issue involving cultural, race or ethnic groups. “Multidimensional risk maps can show at a glance, what population groups are most exposed to particular hazards,” (Phillips, B. et.al. 2010)

Application: I believe that emotional intelligence is very important, especially if the audience affected by the crisis does not speak English. A crisis report that offers words that are sincere, candid, and honest can have a calming effect on the group.

Additional References: Phillips, Brenda. et al. 2010 “Social Vulnerability to Disasters” Pp. 144