Issues, Crisis and Risk Communication
24 hours face to face + Blended and Swinburne Online
One Semester or equivalent
Hawthorn, Online
Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
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
Prerequisites
MDA10001
Introduction to Media StudiesAND
PUB10001 Introduction to Public Relations Theory and Practice
OR
MDA10018 Content Creator Lab OR JOU10007 Media Content Creation
Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
11-March-2024
09-June-2024
09-June-2024
Last self-enrolment date
24-March-2024
Census date
05-April-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
26-April-2024
Results released date
02-July-2024
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
04-November-2024
09-February-2025
09-February-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-November-2024
Census date
29-November-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
27-December-2024
Results released date
04-March-2025
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Lecture | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| On-campus Class | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Specified Activities Various | 4.00 | 12 weeks | 48 |
| Unspecified Activities Various | 6.50 | 12 weeks | 78 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
All Applicable Locations
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 12.50 | 12 weeks | 150 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Individual/Group | 40% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Portfolio | Individual | 30% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Test | Individual | 30% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Assignment | Individual/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.