Emergency management communication: The paradox of the positive in public communication for preparedness

Article

Johnston, Kim A., Taylor, Maureen and Ryan, Barbara. 2020. "Emergency management communication: The paradox of the positive in public communication for preparedness." Public Relations Review. 46 (2), pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2020.101903
Article Title

Emergency management communication: The paradox of the positive in public communication for preparedness

ERA Journal ID31121
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsJohnston, Kim A. (Author), Taylor, Maureen (Author) and Ryan, Barbara (Author)
Journal TitlePublic Relations Review
Journal Citation46 (2), pp. 1-10
Article Number101903
Number of Pages10
Year2020
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN0363-8111
1873-4537
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2020.101903
Web Address (URL)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S036381112030028X
Abstract

Government emergency management agencies use public communication to inform and educate around risks such as floods, fires, storms, and earthquakes with the aim to help communities understand how to prepare for these emergency events. This study of government communication relating to emergency management preparedness examines an Australian context to understand the types of messages preparing community members for natural hazards. Findings suggest that agencies employ a two-track approach combining warranting and engagement messages. Yet a deeper look at the messages suggests a “paradox of the positive” that overemphasizes the capacity of local agencies to respond to crises and underemphasizes citizen shared responsibility. Implications for the paradox of the positive in other national contexts and public relations theory building are also discussed.

KeywordsPublic communication; Community engagement; Emergency; Natural hazard; Preparation; Paradox of the positive
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020470101. Communication studies
Public Notes

The project from which this paper comes was funded by the Australian Bushfire and Natural Hazards Co-operative Research along with industry partners NSW State Emergency Service, Inspector General of Emergency Management Qld, Department of Fire and Emergency Services Western Australia, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Cairns Regional Council, Ipswich City Council, Tablelands Regional Council.

Byline AffiliationsQueensland University of Technology
University of Technology Sydney
School of Humanities and Communication
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q5qz1/emergency-management-communication-the-paradox-of-the-positive-in-public-communication-for-preparedness

Log in to edit
  • 177
    total views
  • 26
    total downloads
  • 5
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Learning from the experiences of residents: January to July 2022 floods
Taylor, Mel, Miller, Fiona, Johnston, Kim, Ryan, Barbara, Lane, Anne, King, Rachel, Narwal, Harriet, Miller, Madeleine, Simon, Helga and Dabas, Dipika. 2023. "Learning from the experiences of residents: January to July 2022 floods." The Australian Journal of Emergency Management. 38 (3), pp. 27-30.
A Community Engagement Approach to Natural Hazard Communication
Taylor, Maureen, Johnston, Kim A. and Ryan, Barbara. 2023. "A Community Engagement Approach to Natural Hazard Communication ." Coombs, W. Timothy and Holladay, Sherry J. (ed.) The Handbook of Crisis Communication. United States. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 327-342
Using an inventory cluster approach for assessing bushfire preparedness and information needs in vulnerable communities
Ryan, Barbara, King, Rachel, Lokuge, Weena, Karunasena, Warna and Anderson, Esther. 2023. "Using an inventory cluster approach for assessing bushfire preparedness and information needs in vulnerable communities." Natural Hazards. 115, p. 1697–1714. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-022-05614-2
Recognising and measuring competency in natural hazard preparation: A preparedness competency index
Ryan, Barbara, Johnston, Kim A. and Taylor, Maureen. 2022. "Recognising and measuring competency in natural hazard preparation: A preparedness competency index." International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 73, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.102882
Evacuation versus shelter in place
McLennan, Jim, Bearman, Chris and Ryan, Barbara. 2022. "Evacuation versus shelter in place." McGee, Tara K. and Penning-Rowsell, Edmund (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Environmental Hazards and Society. Routledge. pp. 335-350
Engaging communities to prepare for natural hazards: a conceptual model
Johnston, Kim A., Taylor, Maureen and Ryan, Barbara. 2022. "Engaging communities to prepare for natural hazards: a conceptual model." Natural Hazards. 112, pp. 2831-2851. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-022-05290-2
Bushfire mitigation and preparation on the Toowoomba Region Escarpment: a research report for Toowoomba Regional Council
Ryan, Barbara, King, Rachel, Lokuge, Weena, Karunasena, Karu and Anderson, Esther. 2020. Bushfire mitigation and preparation on the Toowoomba Region Escarpment: a research report for Toowoomba Regional Council. Toowoomba, Australia. University of Southern Queensland.
Community engagement for disaster preparedness: a systematic literature review
Ryan, Barbara, Johnston, Kim A., Taylor, Maureen and McAndrew, Ryan. 2020. "Community engagement for disaster preparedness: a systematic literature review." International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101655
The missing link in emergency management: evaluating community engagement
Taylor, Maureen, Ryan, Barbara and Johnston, Kim. 2020. "The missing link in emergency management: evaluating community engagement." The Australian Journal of Emergency Management. 35 (1), pp. 45-52.
How ready is ready? Measuring physical preparedness for severe storms
Ryan, Barbara and King, Rachel. 2020. "How ready is ready? Measuring physical preparedness for severe storms." Natural Hazards. 104, pp. 171-199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-020-04164-9
Mapping approaches to community engagement for preparedness in Australia
Johnston, Kim, Ryan, Barbara and Taylor, Maureen. 2019. Mapping approaches to community engagement for preparedness in Australia. East Melbourne, Australia. Bushfire and Natural Hazards Co-operative Research Centre.
Should we leave now? Behavioral factors in evacuation under wildfire threat
McLennan, Jim, Ryan, Barbara, Bearman, Chris and Toh, Keith. 2019. "Should we leave now? Behavioral factors in evacuation under wildfire threat." Fire Technology. 55 (2), pp. 487-516. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-018-0753-8
Toowoomba escarpment residents’ preparedness for storm and bushfire, and their understanding of bushfire preparedness engagement.
Ryan, Barbara and King, Rachel. 2017. Toowoomba escarpment residents’ preparedness for storm and bushfire, and their understanding of bushfire preparedness engagement. Toowoomba, Australia. University of Southern Queensland.
A model to explain information seeking behaviour by individuals in the response phase of a disaster
Ryan, Barbara. 2018. "A model to explain information seeking behaviour by individuals in the response phase of a disaster." Library and Information Science Research. 40 (2), pp. 73-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2018.05.001
Establishing information seeking pathways in slow and flash floods
Ryan, Barbara. 2018. "Establishing information seeking pathways in slow and flash floods." International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 31, pp. 9-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.04.005
The significance of communication in emergency management: what’s changed since 2010?
Ryan, Barbara. 2017. "The significance of communication in emergency management: what’s changed since 2010?" The Australian Journal of Emergency Management. 32 (1), pp. 24-31.
Assessing regional digital competence: Digital futures and strategic planning implications
Alam, Khorshed, Erdiaw-Kwasie, Michael, Shahiduzzaman, Md and Ryan, Barbara. 2018. "Assessing regional digital competence: Digital futures and strategic planning implications." Journal of Rural Studies. 60, pp. 60-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2018.02.009
Does measurement of intentions allow us to assume behavior? A disaster information seeking perspective
Ryan, Barbara. 2013. "Does measurement of intentions allow us to assume behavior? A disaster information seeking perspective." International Research Committee on Disasters Annual Meeting (2013). Broomfield, United States 16 Jul 2013 Boulder CO USA.
Information seeking in a flood
Ryan, Barbara. 2013. "Information seeking in a flood." Disaster Prevention and Management: an international journal. 22 (3), pp. 229-242. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-05-2012-0059
Information seeking in a disaster
Ryan, Barbara. 2012. "Information seeking in a disaster." Sison, Mariane D. and Sheehan, Mark (ed.) 2012 World Public Relations Forum Research Colloquium. Melbourne, Australia 18 - 20 Nov 2012 Melbourne, Australia.
How people seek information when their community is in a disaster
Ryan, Barbara. 2011. "How people seek information when their community is in a disaster." Emergency Media and Public Affairs: Partnering with the Media (2011). Canberra, Australia 10 - 12 Apr 2011 Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, Australia.
Crisis preparedness in government departments in Australia
Ryan, Barbara. 2009. "Crisis preparedness in government departments in Australia." 2009 Emergency Media and Public Affairs Conference: Engaging in Emergencies. Melbourne, Australia 24 - 26 May 2009 Melbourne, Australia.
Significance of communication in emergency management
Ryan, Barbara and Matheson, Amalia. 2010. "Significance of communication in emergency management." The Australian Journal of Emergency Management. 25 (1), pp. 54-57.
Just what is the significance of communication in emergency management? An attempt to find empirical evidence by content analysis of reviews and debriefs of Australian emergency incidents and exercises
Ryan, Barbara and Matheson, Amalia. 2009. "Just what is the significance of communication in emergency management? An attempt to find empirical evidence by content analysis of reviews and debriefs of Australian emergency incidents and exercises." 2009 Emergency Media and Public Affairs Conference: Engaging in Emergencies. Melbourne, Australia 24 - 26 May 2009 Melbourne, Australia.
How can the corporate sector concepts of 'reputation' and 'trust' be used by local government? A study to establish a model of reputation management for local government
Ryan, Barbara. 2007. "How can the corporate sector concepts of 'reputation' and 'trust' be used by local government? A study to establish a model of reputation management for local government." Asia Pacific Public Relations Journal. 8, pp. 37-75.