Risk and Crisis Communication in Europe (Routledge Research in Communication Studies)

This timely volume offers an international and cross-disciplinary examination of risk and crisis communication theory and practice in Europe.

Placing the rapidly developing field of risk and crisis communication within the context of a Europe in flux – experiencing the amplification of the refugee crisis, Brexit, increasing terrorist attacks, a heightened awareness of the climate crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic – a cross-continental team of experts explore these developments from a theoretical and practical standpoint. Drawing connections between culture, digital technology, identity, public health, politics, and industry, the analysis offers a multitude of perspectives from across the continent and provides ways ahead for the field of risk and crisis communication.

This exciting and innovative volume will interest scholars and students of risk and crisis communication, media studies, political communication, public relations, political studies, and international relations.

Chapter 5 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons [Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND)] 4.0 license

Audra Diers-Lawson is a Professor of Risk and Crisis Communication and Director of the PhD in Communication and Leadership at Kristiania University College. She wrote Crisis Communication: Managing Stakeholder Relationships and co-edited Pandemic Communication. She has collaborated with colleagues with the Asia Europe Foundation, WHO, and EU and currently serves as a member of the WHO Europe’s Technical Advisory Group for Risk Communication, Community Engagement, and Infodemic Management.

Andreas Schwarz (PhD, TU Ilmenau, 2009) is senior researcher in risk and crisis communication at Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany, is co-director of the International Research Group on Crisis Communication, and founding chair of the Crisis Communication Section of the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA), 2011–2018. Schwarz has received research grants to study risk communication of COVID-19, crisis communication of child protective services and nonprofit organizations, and perceptions of artificial intelligence or automated mobility. He is co-editor of the Handbook of International Crisis Communication Research.

Florian Meissner is Professor for Media Management and Journalism at Macromedia University of Applied Sciences. He serves as Chair of the Crisis Communication Section of ECREA. His research focuses on crisis and risk communication in both journalistic and social media. As one of the Principal Investigators in the research consortium “DigiFit”, funded by the German Federal Government, he currently focuses on communication about digital security. He has practical work experience as a journalist for public broadcasters in Germany.

Silvia Ravazzani, PhD, is Associate Professor in Management at the Department of Business, Law, Economics and Consumer Behaviour at Università IULM in Italy. Her main research interests include crisis communication, social media, and employee communication. Other research areas relate to diversity management and inclusion, sustainability, and related discursive practices.