Publics increasingly use social media during crises and, consequently, crisis communication professionals need to understand how strategically optimize these tools. Despite this need, there is scarce theory-grounded research key factors that affect publics consume information via compared other sources. To fill gap, an emerging model helps managers produce, consume, and/or share and sources: the social-mediated (SMCC). This study tests essential components of SMCC through a 3 (crisis form) x...

An increasing lack of information truthfulness has become a fundamental challenge to communications. Insights into how debunk this type misinformation can especially be crucial for public health crises. To identify corrective strategies that increase awareness and trigger actions during infectious disease outbreaks, an online experiment (N = 700) was conducted, using U.S. sample. After initial exposure, participants’ exposure (simple rebuttal vs. factual elaboration) source (government...

This study provides insights that can inform disaster communication management, policymaking, and theory building through a nationally representative field experiment ( N = 2,015 U.S. adults) grounded in media richness theory, information technologies (ICTs) succession the social-mediated crisis (SMCC) model. Key findings include following: (1) Significant main effects of source were detected on how likely participants to seek further from TV, local government websites, federal websites; (2)...

Practitioners and academics are buzzing about the impact of blogosphere on public relations practices. Emerging evidence indicates that strategically managing blog-mediated may be especially critical for crisis managers. Yet, no known research provides a comprehensive, theoretically sound approach indicating how managers should engage with blogosphere. Therefore, this study proposes new conceptual model to help professionals navigate evolving blogosphere: communication model. This helps...

To better understand not only the minds, but also hearts of key publics, we have developed a more systemic approach to responses audiences in crisis situations. The Integrated Crisis Mapping (ICM) model is based on publics-based, emotion-driven perspective where publics' different crises are mapped 2 continua, organization's engagement and primary coping strategy. This multistage testing found evidence that anxiety was default emotion publics felt crises. subsequent emotions by varied...

AbstractAs public expectations continue to grow in terms of how governments should monitor social media during disasters, it is critical provide empirical support for the extent which invest as essential disaster communication tools. This 3 × 4 2 between-subjects experiment (N = 871) tested which, if any, information forms and sources were more likely generate desired outcomes such intentions seek share through an array channels. The study also related influences person-made versus natural...

Through 22 in-depth interviews and an experiment with 162 college students, this study applies the social-mediated crisis communication (SMCC) model to understand why how publics communicate about crises. Specifically, focuses on source form of initial information are exposed affect their communication. The findings confirm validity SMCC model's core components related publics' communicative tendencies under influence traditional media, social offline word-of-mouth results also indicate that...

Through interviews with 40 American Red Cross communication professionals, this study examines how an organization that frequently responds to crises proactively manages on- and offline before, during, after crises. The results provide the first empirical evaluation of emerging model: blog-mediated crisis model (BMCC). lessons shared by are insightful for researchers understand process in nonprofit sector, which also relevant other public relations professionals. findings support components...

Through a nationally representative survey of 1,840 U.S. adults, this study examined fright, anger, and anxiety as emotional predictors how publics respond to organizational crisis communication communicate with each other during hypothetical terrorist attack. The also the influences age, gender, publics' involvement prior media coverage 2013 Boston Marathon bombings through hierarchical regression analyses. Crisis emotions, involvement, demographics are significant different behavioral...

Abstract We examined how age and exposure to different types of COVID-19 (mis)information affect misinformation beliefs, perceived credibility the message intention-to-share it on WhatsApp. Through two mixed-design online experiments in UK Brazil (total N = 1454) we first randomly exposed adult WhatsApp users full misinformation, partial or truth about therapeutic powers garlic cure COVID-19. then all participants corrective information from World Health Organisation debunking this claim....

Purpose Disinformation, false information designed with the intention to mislead, can significantly damage organizational operation and reputation, interfering communication relationship management in a wide breadth of risk crisis contexts. Modern digital platforms emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), introduce novel risks (Guthrie Rich, 2022). Disinformation literature security computer science has assessed how previously introduced technologies have affected...

Abstract Driven by the academia‐industry co‐identified need to discover new keystones for optimizing organizational crisis communication and management decision‐making, this concept paper proposes a “READINESS” model. Grounded in preparedness resilience literature drawing predominantly from strategic conflict elements, READINESS is examined as multidimensional construct with multilevel efficacy, mental adaptability, emotional leadership‐focused mindset, dynamic process‐driven agility at its...

Based on the emotional leadership theory, this study used a national survey of public relations leaders to examine core traits and skills for effective leadership. Transformational was preferred by leaders, in which empathy played an essential role. were found be significant predictors leaders' competency gaining employees' trust, managing frustration optimism, as well taking stances toward employees top management decision-making conflicts. By identifying dimension leadership, findings...

As the first study of Chinese newspaper coverage depression over past twelve years, this paper analyzed how state-controlled Party press and market-oriented City framed attributed responsibilities at individual societal levels. The also explored cultural organizational factors influenced frame building. Findings indicate that print news utilized more thematic than episodic framing. However, there was a gradual decrease in increase framing time. newspapers placed problem-solving (but not...

This study explores social media users' personality traits and motivations for the usage of two different platforms, Facebook Pinterest, as well how varied uses impact negative emotional experiences. The findings suggest that intensity is positively related to emotions. For users, socialization, entertainment, information seeking significantly influence their platform use and, subsequently, lead Self-status also has a direct effect on Pinterest socialization not significant motivation...