Overview

Crisis Communication in Emergency Management focuses on communication during crises in the context of emergency services. Through examination of the variety of roles communication plays in emergencies and during a changing media environment, students will walk away from this class with a better understanding of: 1. effective ways to communicate before, during, and after a crisis, 2. implications of effective and non-effective communication, and 3. an overall understanding of the interrelatedness between Emergency Management and all levels of communication. This course bridges theory and practice offering students the opportunity to participate in the creation of media messages.

This course awards 2.4 Continuing Education Units (CEU) upon completion.

Who Should Attend?

This provides a strong foundation in the interrelationships between the fields of emergency management, risk, and crisis communication. It is designed for PR officers, members of the press, and any employee who interacts with government offices, the press and/or the public in an official role. Students will learn about planning and preparing organizations and the public for crisis situations as well as mitigating the effects of these situations through sharing important information in effective ways. This course offers a valuable foundation in emergency services, risk, and crisis communication and would be valuable for professionals new to the field as well as mid-level professionals looking to further their knowledge and make it applicable to the field.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Analyze the four phases of emergency management - mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery - and examine the importance of communication during each phase.
• Design a crisis communication plan based on the principles of a successful crisis communications strategy.
• Identify ethical and legal responsibilities in crisis and risk communication scenarios and demonstrate ethical leadership in theoretical and simulated exercises.
• Formulate approaches for communicating effectively in writing through various channels, including both traditional and new media, during a crisis.
• Develop strategies for communicating effectively with various audiences as a spokesperson for an organization during a crisis.

Course Information

For sessions delivered online only: This is an online asynchronous instructor facilitated course with weekly modules and assignments, but no scheduled meeting times. Students should plan to spend approximately 10-15 hours per week working through the course depending on experience and proficiency. Coursework is web-based and requires additional software and a reliable internet connection.

All sessions open 48 business hours in advance of each start date and must be completed by their scheduled end dates. Digital certificates are available upon successful completion of individual courses. Printed certificates are mailed only upon completion of a full certificate program.