A theory of emergency communication using cooriented perceptions of journalists and official sources in an anthrax attack.

摘要

While social scientists have attempted to develop explanations for risk and crisis management, the current study articulates a new theory of emergency communication (TEC) which identifies six specific dimensions of emergency messages. The dissertation surveys two groups primarily responsible for message construction---journalists and official sources---in urban Kentucky using a hypothetical anthrax attack. Specifically, this study; (1) provides a rationale for how emergencies differ from routine journalist-source interactions, (2) articulates the dimensions of emergency messages, (3) frames emergency communication using coorientation (Chaffee & McLeod, 1968) to analyze the attitudes and cross perceptions of journalists and official sources in an extreme event, (4) tests TEC coorientation hypotheses, and (5) suggests strategies for improving journalist-official source interaction in a terror attack, natural disaster, or other emergency to improve public health messages.; Keywords. Emergency, Crisis Communication, Terrorism, Public Health Messages, Panic