Crisis communication in the rhetorical arena |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. University of Oslo, Norway;2. University of Houston, School of Communication, 101 Communications Building, Houston, Texas 77204-3002, USA;1. Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore;2. School of Journalism & Mass Communications, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA;1. College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida, G031 Weimer Hall, 1885 Stadium Road, PO Box 118400, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States;2. College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida, 3202C Weimer Hall, 1885 Stadium Road, PO Box 118400, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States;1. Department of Communication, School of Communication and Information, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 4 Huntington Street, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, United States;2. Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California, 3502 Watt Way, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States |
| |
| Abstract: | This study applies and extends the rhetorical arena theory (RAT) of crisis communication with a network analysis. Taking the Volkswagen emission crisis as a case in point, the media discourse in two German and two US-based newspapers was analyzed. Patterns of interaction between various voices that co-construct the rhetorical crisis situation were examined using a relational analysis of statements. A symbolic network was constructed that consisted of rhetorical relations between the actors. The findings show that VW is by far the most prominent voice in the media coverage. However, this prominence is based on the fact that VW mainly appears in the role of the addressee of statements, and that many of the corporation’s statements are self-referential. Politicians and public authorities, as well as experts, have a good chance to actively have their say. Affected stakeholders and NGOs, on the other hand, barely got an opportunity to speak. Overall, the media discourse appears to be dominated by a few high-ranking actors, and the roles and power relationships are distributed very unevenly. Implications of this imbalance in media discourse are discussed, and suggestions for further research are made. |
| |
| Keywords: | Crisis communication Rhetorical arena Multivocal approach Network analysis Media discourse Volkswagen emission crisis |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
