11- Randy Rask- Risk and Crisis Communication

Reference:

Lachlan, Kenneth. Handbook of Risk and Crisis Communication. Journal of Communication; Sep2010, Vol. 60 Issue 3, pE8-E11, 4p

Theme: Overview of the Handbook of Risk and Crisis Communication written by Robert Heath and Dan O'Hair. 

Summary:

-          Disasters and crises in recent history have brought about a consideration of disaster in the general public along with in academics. 

-          Our generation is becoming much more aware on issues such as natural disasters, terrorism, wars, etc.

-          Consideration is being taken on preparation, response, and restoration disasters more now than it ever has before.

-          Robert Heath and Dan O'Hair write about risk and crisis communications that help with these consideration.

-          Risk research is the approach taken by the book to address crises.

-          The book has a large range of focus on disasters of our day

-          Section one of the book covers the definition of crisis and risk communication

-          Section two focuses on different frameworks that go along with crisis and risk communication efforts

-          It covers how to steer clear of message processing and learn to think more on an organizational scale.

-          Public media and its relation to crisis management is also addressed.

-          The last section takes everything covered in the previous sections and applies them to crisis and risk scenarios.

 

Application to Lesson Topic:

Risk and crisis communication is very important in dealing with a disaster.  Through this book, we can see how to approach certain scenarios and how to properly deal with crisis communication.

Application to Emergency Services:

Obviously we all know how important risk and crisis communication is during disasters.  Emergency service members need to be open to learning and studying different sources about crisis and risk communication.  This will help us learn and become better emergency service members for the public. 

 

Reading summary #11 - Crisis communication strategies - Author Unknown

Reference: Valvi, A. C., & Fragkos, K. C. (2013). Crisis communication strategies: a case of British Petroleum. Industrial & Commercial Training, 45(7), 383-391. doi:10.1108/ICT-04-2013-0026

Theme: With an oil spill in 2010 BP failed in it's communication during the crisis.

Summary:

• British Petroleum (BP) came face to face with a crisis on 20 April 2010 when an explosion in the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig caused a huge oil spillage in the Gulf of Mexico.
• The case study attempts to describe BP's serious communication mistakes managing a serious hit to BP's reputation.
• The case study attempts to provide a detailed outline of BP's communication failures by conducting in-depth investigation of newspapers, audiovisual material, social network sites.
• BP's crisis communication was a weak link in its crisis management strategy.
• Public Relations (PR) mistakes were made by BP and shouldn't be avoided in a crisis of their organization. They should select strategies that point out their organization's strengths and correct its weaknesses in order to take advantage of opportunities and counter external threats.
• This study could be valuable in communication, since BP's PR strategies during this oil spill have not been studied before this incident, now they have and suggestions have been made
• The communications solutions BP took during the crisis were examined and certain strategies BP should have followed in order to avoid its failed PR plan are outlined in the article.
• The suggestions can help both PIO's and researchers to learn from BP's mistakes and give more attention to communication strategies, which are critical to all crises.

Application to lesson topic: Good crisis communication is vital in any situation

Application to emergency management: In an emergency good crisis communication is vital. That is how information is passed onto the public. When crisis communication doesn't go well, there's enormous consequences.

11- Ashley Burningham- Risk and Crisis Communication

Reference:

Crutchfield, N. (2010). Risk & Crisis Communication. Professional Safety, 55(8), 8-9.

Theme:

Social networking analysis can help evaluate communication practices and help enhance effectiveness of risk and safety process development. 

Summary:

- Comprehensive review of definitions, concepts, and considerations for risk and crisis communication. 

- Plan must provide for timely, accurate, and helpful messages. 

- How can these be determined? Social networking. 

- Social Networking Analysis (SNA) has not been used effectively in risk/safety process development. 

- SNA can enhance potential effectiveness. 

- Communicating risk concepts is challenging. 

- Comprehensive plan is not enough. Additional tools and methods are needed. 

- This increases probability that message will get through. 

- SNA is a way to determine quality and scope of personal and organizational group interactions.

- SNA can show who talks to who, quality of the conversation, whether it is positive or negative, etc. 

- Map of interaction (building blocks):

1. Individuals or groups are "actors" or "nodes".

2. Contact between actors or nodes is a "link". 

3. Basic transfer element is a "dyad". 

- This can reveal strengths and weaknesses in a chain of communication. 

Application to lesson:

This lesson was on risk and crisis communication. This article discusses how social networking can improve both types of communication by determining how employees communicate with one another. 

Application to career:

In law enforcement, there will always be people who do not get along. One of the important necessities of law enforcement is having the ability to put aside your differences and work together to achieve a goal. SNA can help determine who lacks a strong communication basis and this can help improve relationships and crisis communication. 

11 - Emergency Management Planning and Communication - Michael Newland

Reference:

Heath, R. L., Lee, J., & Ni, L. (2009). Crisis and Risk Approaches to Emergency Management Planning and Communication: The Role of Similarity and Sensitivity. Journal of Public Relations Research, Vol. 21 Issue 2, Pg. 123-141.

Theme: This article examines whether multiple voices are best to supply crisis information, evaluation, and advice to make communities more fully functioning.

Summary:

·         Emergency management is a key to preventing and responding to risks, and managing related issues to make society more fully functioning.

·         An infrastructural approach to crisis and risk reasons that individual, expert, and community efficacy are focal points for determining whether a community is properly organized to plan and communicate about various risks.

·         Community theory postulates that planning and response compliance increase as multiple voices join to provide requisite diversity in planning and response.

·         The centerpiece of emergency management communication is the persuasiveness of the experts' advice: Willingness of people to receive and yield to advice - use it for personal response.

·         Diversity in public relations adds value to society's discourse because it increases the likelihood that concerns will be heard and given regard.

·         Emergency management planning and communication is less likely to experience crisis if diversity of opinions is brought into planning and communication that are sensitive to residents' perception of the world.

Application to the Lesson Topic: This week’s lesson topic is risk and crisis communication. This article shows that people are more likely to follow advice if information is communicated by multiple sources.

Application to Emergency Services: Risk and crisis communication is vital to emergency services. If information is communicated to the public there is going to be a lot more damage and fatalities. It is important for multiple sources to get information out in order to help mitigate losses.

Reading Summary 9 - Social Media Changing the Way FEMA Responds to Disasters - Chris Schippers

Chris Schippers

Reference:

SICARD, S., & THOMAS, S. (2013). Social Media Changing the Way FEMA Responds to Disasters. National Defense, 98(718), 17-18. Retrieved on September 18, 2013 from http://ezproxy.uvu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=91690098&site=ehost-live

Theme:

This article explains how today's society has evolved in communications during disasters.  The majority of people today use one form or another of social media to inform loved ones of their status during or after a disaster.  It also explains how the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is boarding this train as well to inform the public of up-to-date response information as well as safety and preparedness tips.

Summary:

·         According to a University of San Francisco survey, more than 70 percent of people in disaster situations use social media to let their families and friends know that they are OK.

·         The use of social media in responding to natural disasters is becoming crucial to emergency response agencies.

·         'Social media enables response organizations to quickly push information to the public'

·         FEMA now has three Facebook pages 34 Twitter accounts.

·         Leverage of such social media tools is imperative.

·         Millions of Americans use social media daily and for various reasons.

·         Social media can be a double-edged sword when misinformation is spread.

·         Since social media is open and anyone can use it, there is a need to establish common standards and procedures to help make the sharing of data more efficient.

·         FEMA is trying to mitigate the problem of misinformation by developing a rumor control webpage that acknowledges or denounces information spread through social media.

·         FEMA plans to continue engaging in online conversations, provide information to the public, and produce a better-informed public.

·         The University of San Francisco also found that 80 percent of Americans expect emergency response agencies to monitor social media sites.

·         One out of three expect help to arrive within an hour of posting a request online.

·         Social media can also be a source of information for agencies to keep tabs on disasters.

·         FEMA was the first to develop a shortcode that could be texted to receive information on open recovery disaster centers and it received 10,000 requests in one day from people searching for shelter.

·         FEMA also developed a smartphone app that provides disaster safety tips and maps to shelters.

Application to the Lesson Topic:

The use of social media for disaster agencies is an extremely helpful and advantageous tool. During this lesson we learned firsthand how well Twitter works for spreading information before, during, and after disasters.  The article explains how FEMA understands the importance of social media in spreading important information such as safety tips and shelters as well as combatting misinformation.

Application to Emergency Services:

This applies directly to emergency services, especially since FEMA is at the forefront of all Emergency Agencies and gets the most attention during a disaster. Emergency Service Agencies everywhere should follow the example left by FEMA and dive deep into the information highway that is social media.

Reading Summary 10

Reading Summary by Sylvia Kearney November 16^th, 2013

Reference: REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA ON SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMS. (2013). International Debates, 11(6), 16-18.

Statement: On August 9^th, 2013, President Obama gave a Press Conference that addressed surveillance programs for the United States. 

Summary: The President explains that with ongoing and reforming technology every feature of our lives is changing. Therefore, President Obama feels that we also need to change our security, to keep all Americans safe with the following changes.

1.     President Obama will work with Congress to follow appropriate reforms to Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which is the program that collects telephone conversations and records. The president claims that it does not allow the government to listen in to any ones conversation without a warrant.

2.     President Obama will also work with Congress to correct the public’s confidence in the FISC or Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. He is considering making additional changes to the FISC in order to review certain intelligence activities.

3.     President Obama is asking us to become more transparent. So, President Obama has requested for all of our programs, from the NSA to the Department of Justice etc. to make public as much information as possible. The President claims that several programs will have a public website where anyone can find out what the program is doing and or working on at the time.

4.     President Obama is very concerned about our safety and the possibility of terrorist attacks on the United States. He claims that these steps will ensure Americans that they can trust in the Obama regime. He makes it clear that he is only interested in protecting this country and our allies.

 Comment: After reading Andrew Napolitano’s outtake from his book, How Congress Has Assaulted Our Freedom in the Patriot Act, I was reminded that I did a paper once and remembered that after 9/11 the patriot act would change everything. Napolitano wrote,” The deepest cut came on October 15, 2001 when Congress enacted the Patriot Act. With minimal floor debate in the Senate and no floor debate in the House (House members were given only 30 minutes to read the 315 page bill), Congress enacted this most unpatriotic rejection of privacy and constitutional guarantees.” (Napolitano, A., 2005)

Application: I am not sure if I should believe the Obama regime when our President states that we do not need to worry, that no one is listening in our conversations. I am not afraid. I have nothing to hide in my conversations, since I, a middle class female, working full-time, having only one worry. How can we ever get ahead, just a little bit to maybe go on a vacation or re-model our home?

Additional References: Napolitano, Andrew, former judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, “How Congress Has Assaulted Our Freedom in the Patriot Act” Retrieved on November 15^th, 2013 from: http://www.lewrockwell.com/2005/12/andrew-p-napolitano/how-congress-has-assaulted-our-freedoms-in-the-patriot-act/

Image, Public Speaking, and The John Rocker Press Conference

Chris Schippers

Reference:

Barton, M. H., & Turman, P. D. (2003). Image, Public Speaking, and The John Rocker Press Conference. Communication Teacher, 17(3), 7-9. http://ezproxy.uvu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ufh&AN=31746589&site=ehost-live

Theme:

This article talks about an activity for students, using a mock press conference about baseball player John Rocker, to repair his image.  It teaches students the principles of public speaking and how the use of these principles can be applied to repair a person's public image through press conferences and media releases.

Summary:

·         Society in the United States is overly concerned about public image.

·         It is important for students to recognize how the creation and dissemination of messages can be understood by examining the communication goals associated with creating, maintaining, and/or repairing an image.

·         The article talks about an activity of a mock press conference.

·         This activity focuses on student participation in a mock press conference about John Rocker and proceeds in three steps.

·         John Rocker's actions on the field and in a later interview with Sports Illustrated tarnished his image as well as those on his team and those around him.

·         The first step in the activity is to assign readings to students and then have a brief discussion about the two readings.

·         The second step involves providing students with a copy of John Rocker's interview with Sports Illustrated followed by a handout with strategies for apologia.

·         Examples of the strategies for apologia are: denial, bolstering, transcendence and image repair strategies.

·         After reading the interview and strategies the students are then placed in groups to act as though they were a public relations firm.

·         Each group is to choose one apologia strategy or one image repair strategy which would be most effective for Rocker to use to respond to the public in a press conference setting.

·         They then prepare a 3-4 min statement for him to read in a press conference.

·         The instructor should set a sports press conference atmosphere in which the activity it to take place.

·         The activity emphasizes how statements and strategies are influential in changing public opinion

Application to the Lesson Topic:

This article uses a press conference activity to teach students the impact of the media and public speaking.  This relates to the lesson topic in that it teaches students how to create speaking points and focus on the essential speaking points to get their message across.

Application to Emergency Services:

Even though this article doesn't mention emergency services a single time, it can still be applied to our field.  This message can be used by a PIO or Liaison of a department if they ever have to deal with a lawsuit or anything that questions the character of their employees.  Not to mention, this article offers guidelines on how to prepare a message under short notice, of which a PIO will have to do quite often in their career.