A Primer for Crisis Communication Theory: The Fusion of Theory and Practice

Guided by a belief that good crisis communication theory should inform and improve practice, this book makes a wide range of theories utilized in crisis communication accessible to researchers, students, and practitioners.

The book begins with an extended discussion of applied theory, including the theory building process, to help the reader appreciate how theory can connect to the practice of crisis communication. This discussion is followed by chapters each explaining a theory and using an evidence-based approach to explore how that theory illuminates and applies to crisis communication practice. The array of theories includes those that are descriptive, prescriptive, and critical and cover the areas of public crises, political crises, and corporate crises.

This book is essential reading for advanced students of public relations and strategic communication and researchers in crisis and risk communication, with practical insights suitable for interested professionals.

Finn Frandsen is Professor of Corporate Communication and Crisis Management in the Department of Management, Aarhus University, Denmark.

W. Timothy Coombs is an advisor for the Centre for Crisis and Risk Communications. His primary area of research and consulting is crisis communication.

Winni Johansen is Professor of Corporate Communication and Crisis Management in the Department of Management, Aarhus University, Denmark.