The Rise and Fall of Hot-Issue Publics

Relationships that Develop From Media Coverage of Events and Crises

Bibliographic Data

ID12800490
AuthorsLinda Aldoory (0000-0002-3079-867X, University of Maryland, College Park), James E Grunig (0000-0003-1947-7274, University of Maryland, College Park, corresponding author)
Year2012
Volume6
Issue1
Pages93-108
Publication date2012-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Strategic Communication (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1553-118X • E-ISSN: 1553-1198
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/1553118x.2011.634866
OpenAlexW2066200235
LanguageEN
Citations received16
References cited18

Research over the years using Grunig's situational theory has identified hot-issue publics along with active, aware, latent, and nonpublics. Hot-issue publics typically communicate actively only about a single problem that involves nearly everyone in the population and that has received extensive media coverage. Hot-issue publics tend to emerge when a triggering event occurs, such as an accident, crisis, or media controversy. Hot-issue publics, however, tend to dissipate after media coverage of the problem subsides. This study addresses the extent to which organizations need relationships with hot-issue publics or whether they need only to address media coverage of a crisis at the time it occurs. More than 90 qualitative interviews were conducted over several years with individuals about a number of hot issues. Results suggest that most hot-issue publics do not become active publics but that they remain aware after the problem gets less attention. Thus, organizations need to use principles of crisis communication to cultivate a short-term relationship with hot-issue publics and to continue a longer-term relationship with the now more aware public

Crisis communication · Media coverage · Media studies · Political science · Politics · Population · Public relations · Publics · Situational ethics · Sociology · Disaster Management and Resilience · Law · Public Relations and Crisis Communication · Risk Perception and Management

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