Issues, Crisis and Risk Communication
24 hours face to face + Blended and Swinburne Online
One Semester or equivalent
Overview
This unit introduces students to the strategic importance to organisations of the public relations related disciplines of issues, crisis and risk communication and to explore how they can be implemented in a range of public relations contexts.
Requisites
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Formulate and articulate the differences between issues, crisis and risk communication
- Critically analyse the importance of these disciplines to organisations’ strategic goal-setting
- Analyse key principles from case studies and apply to practice-related concerns
- Prepare plans for issues, crisis and risk communication appropriate to a variety of public relations scenarios
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face to Face Contact (Phasing out) Lecture | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Face to Face Contact (Phasing out) Tutorial | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Specified Learning Activities (Phasing out) Various | 4.00 | 12 weeks | 48 |
| Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out) Independent Learning | 6.50 | 12 weeks | 78 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specified Learning Activities (Phasing out) Readings | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Online Contact (Phasing out) Online Learning Activities | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out) Independent Learning | 6.50 | 12 weeks | 78 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Group | 40% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Portfolio | Individual | 30% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Test | Individual | 30% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
- Concepts - issues, crisis and risk
- Relationship between issues, crisis and risk communication and organisational reputation
- The nature of the issue life cycle; issues communication planning
- Examination of public participation, activists and activism
- Sources of crises
- Development of a crisis plan
- Role of media in issue, crisis and risk communication
- Role of risk communication in risk management
- Risk perception
- Communication of complex, scientific and technical information
- Examination of issues, crisis and risk communication practice through case studies
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.