Journal of Public Relations Research

Sisco, Hilary Fussell

2012 Journal of Public Relations Research

doi: 10.1080/1062726X.2011.582207

Coombs' (2007) Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) provides the theoretical framework for a 3 × 2 experiment testing the effects of SCCT response strategies from a nonprofit organization. The body of research devoted to crisis communication rarely addresses one of the largest areas of public relations, the public sector. Findings illustrate that in two extremes, one in which the nonprofit is a victim and one in which the nonprofit acts intentionally, the strategies of SCCT are successful. The least effective strategy was when the nonprofit was responding to an accident, the most frequent type of crisis situation.

Meng, Juan; Berger, Bruce K.; Gower, Karla K.; Heyman, William C.

2012 Journal of Public Relations Research

doi: 10.1080/1062726X.2012.626132

To better understand leadership in public relations and explore its value in successful communication management, this article captured the perceptions of mid- and senior-level public relations executives (N = 222) regarding the important qualities and dimensions of excellent leadership in the practice. According to study participants, strategic decision-making capability, problem-solving ability, and communication knowledge and expertise are the three most important qualities of excellent leadership. In addition, respondents said that on-the-job experiences, individual initiative and desire, and role models are the most valuable sources of leadership skills and development. About half of the respondents indicated that excellent leaders in public relations are different from leaders in other fields in three ways: They must hold a compelling vision for communication, possess comprehensive understanding of media and information systems, and effectively develop and implement strategic communication plans. Professional women and men in the study viewed excellent leadership in more or less similar ways. The study advances understanding of leadership in the field, which has been little explored in the public relations literature.

Hong, Hyehyun; Park, Hyojung; Lee, Youngah; Park, Jongmin

2012 Journal of Public Relations Research

doi: 10.1080/1062726X.2012.626135

The purposes of this study are (a) to suggest a model of public segmentation and (b) to examine each segment's level of trust in government. By using individuals’ cognitive perceptions of government and participation in social organizations, as well as media use and demographic characteristics, as public segmentation criteria, a cluster analysis of international survey datasets of the United States and 19 European countries generated 3 public segments in each country. The largest cluster, named the underserved inactive majority, and representing a low level of income and education, low interest in politics, low trust in others, low citizenship standards, and minimal social participation, contrasted with the smallest cluster, named the satisfied active public. The identified segments differed in trust in governmental institutions, which is a key indicator of the quality of government–public relationships. Overall, the underserved inactive majority reported the lowest trust in governmental institutions, whereas citizen trust among the satisfied active public was the highest. This study highlights the theoretical and practical values of broad-based public segmentation in government public relations from the relationship-building perspective of public relations, rather than from a problem-solving perspective. Additionally, some targeted strategies for government communicators to enhance each segment's public trust in government are proposed based on the findings of this study.

Kim, Sora; Liu, Brooke Fisher

2012 Journal of Public Relations Research

doi: 10.1080/1062726X.2012.626136

Through a quantitative content analysis, this study applies situational crisis communication theory (SCCT) to investigate how 13 corporate and government organizations responded to the first phase of the 2009 flu pandemic. The results indicate that government organizations emphasized providing instructing information to their primary publics such as guidelines about how to respond to the crisis. On the other hand, organizations representing corporate interests emphasized reputation management in their crisis responses, frequently adopting denial, diminish, and reinforce response strategies. In addition, both government and corporate organizations used social media more often than traditional media in responding to the crisis. Finally, the study expands SCCT's response options.

Pompper, Donnalyn

2012 Journal of Public Relations Research

doi: 10.1080/1062726X.2012.626137

Women's work relationships with other women in public relations management settings provide context for further developing Kennan and Hazleton's (2006) conception of internal public relations (IPR) theory. To date, undertheorized in the public relations literature are intra-management relationships, social capital-diversity links, and connections between practitioners’ day-do-day lives and organizational contexts. Interviewed were 42 senior-level female public relations managers (African American, Asian American, Caucasian, and Hispanic) whose experiences reveal outcomes of woman/woman dyad work relationships over the past 5 decades and ways these may impact IPR in feminized industries. Explication of IPR theory and suggestions for further development are offered.

2012 Journal of Public Relations Research

doi: 10.1080/1062726X.2012.650080