Digital Storytelling in the Context of Crisis Com-Munication: Post – Crisis Campaigns

Maria Nikolova

doi:10.46324/PMP2001069

Maria Nikolova University of National and World Economy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46324/PMP2001069

Keywords: digital narrative, post-crisis communication, storytelling, social media, online reputation

Abstract

The paper attempts to clarify the concepts of digital narrative and digital storytelling in the context of crisis communication. It is highlighted that the aim in the post-crisis campaigns is to be restored the organizational reputation and the loyalty of the targeted communities. The author attempts to analyze post-crisis campaigns in three different fields - institutional, corporate, and non-government that involving forms of digital narrative. Digital storytelling has a strong and powerful effect on communicating NGO causes. In two out of three cases (NGOs and the corporate sector) communication professionals used video storytelling, while in the institutional sector, formats such as story map and location-based storytelling are used.

Keywords: digital narrative, post-crisis communication, storytelling, social media, online reputation

References

Benoit, W. L. (2015). Accounts, excuses, and apologies: Image repair theory and research (2nd ed.). State University of New York Pres. https://www.sunypress.edu/pdf/63107.pdf

Brataas, K. (2018). Crisis communication: Case studies and lesson learned from international disasters. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Crisis-Communication-Case-Studies-and-Lessons-Learned-from-International/Brataas/p/book/9781498751346

Coombs, W. T. (2007a). Attribution theory as a guide for post-crisis communication research. Public Relations Review, 33(2), 135-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2006.11.016

Coombs, W. T. (2007b). Protecting organization reputations during a crisis: The development and application of situational crisis communication theory. Corporate Reputation Review, 10 (3), 163–176. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.crr.1550049

Coombs, W. T. (2014). Ongoing Crisis Communication. Planning, Managing and Responding. (4th ed.). Sage Publication. Inc. Bookmark: https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/237770777.

Denning, S. (2011). The Leaders' guide to storytelling: mastering the art and discipline of business narrative. Jossey-Bass.

Duggan, M. (2015, August 19). Mobile Messaging and Social Media. Pew Research Center.

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/08/19/mobile-messaging-and-social-media-2015/

Fog, K., Budtz, C., Munch, P. & Blanchette, S. (2010). Storytelling Branding in Practice. Springer. https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783540883487#reviews

Generation Lockdown — March for our lives [Video]. YouTube official channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IM4p62p3M0

Heath, R. L., & O’Hair, H. D. (2009). Handbook of risk and crisis communication. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Handbook-of-Risk-and-Crisis-Communication-1st-Edition/Heath-OHair/p/book/9780805857771

Koenitz, H. (2018). Thoughts on a discipline for the study of interactive digital narratives. In R. Rouse, H. Koenitz, M. Haahr (Eds.), Interactive storytelling. (pp. 36-49). Springer https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030040277#aboutBook

Kopp, D. M., Nikolovska, I., Desiderio, K. P. & Guterman, J. T. (2011). "Relax, I remember the recession in the early 1980s.": Organizational storytelling as a crisis management tool. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 22(3), 373-385.

https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.20067

Lundby, K. (2008). Digital storytelling, mediatized stories: Selfrepresentations in new media. Peter Lang. https://doi.org/10.1057/978113730035

March For Our Lives (2019, April 2019). March for our lives [Video]. Official YouTube Channnel], retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IM4p62p3M0&feature=emb_title

Story Maps Community. (2019, August 15).Communicating emergency management through digital storytelling. ArcGIS Story Map.

https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/arcgis-storymaps/constituent-engagement/communicating-emergency-management-through-digital-storytelling/

Wang, X. (2016). Appeals to ethos and pathos in post-crisis communication: a case study of press conferences handling tianjin blasts. International Journal of English Linguistics, 6(1), 100-109. DOI: 10.5539/ijel.v6n1p100