Revisiting a Social Constructionist Approach to Crisis Communication– Investigating Contemporary Crises in China. Issue 5 (20th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Hui; Falkheimer, Jesper; Heide, Mats
• Is Part Of: International journal of strategic communication. Volume 11:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 364
• Page End: 378
• Publication Date: 2017-10-20
• Subjects: Communication -- Periodicals; Communication in organizations -- Periodicals; 302.2
• DOI: 10.1080/1553118X.2017.1363758
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1553-118X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The current study provides a social constructionist approach to crisis communication in the Chinese context. Crisis communication is viewed as a form of strategic communication, involving multiple stakeholders in situations that are dependent on context, space and time. This approach provides a much-needed path for investigating and understanding crisis communication practices in contemporary China. The distinct Chinese context for crisis communication, with both an authoritarian government structure and a digital transformation of society, challenges theories originally developed in the Western countries. To address this issue, this study proposes a three-theme analytical framework to examine crisis communication practices in the Chinese context: (1) an audience (or stakeholder) orientation—focusing sense-making, (2) a proactive and interactive approach—focusing communication, and (3) a community—focused approach—focusing a long-range precrisis perspective.