Kathleen Fearn-Banks is Professor of Communication in the Department of Communication at the University of Washington.

1 Crisis Communications Today

2 Crisis Communications Theory

3 Communications to Prevent Crises

4 Communications When the Crisis Strikes

5 Social Media and Crisis Communications

6 "Textbook" Crises

7 Culture Crises --Domestic

8 Culture Crises: Foreign and International

9 Environmental Crisis

10 Natural Disasters

11 Transportation Crises

12 Product Failure and Product Tampering

13 Death and Injury

14 The Crisis Communications Plan

Appendices:

Generic Crisis Communications Plan for a Large Company

Crisis Communications Plan for Seattle's Union Gospel Mission

Crisis Communications Plan for a Fictitious Small Business

Crisis Communications: A Casebook Approach presents case studies of organizational, corporate, and individual crises, and analyzes the communication responses to these situations. Demonstrating how professionals prepare for and respond to crises, as well as how they develop crisis communication plans, this essential text explores crucial issues concerning communication with the news media, employees, and consumers in times of crisis. Author Kathleen Fearn-Banks addresses how to choose the best possible words to convey a message, the best method for delivering the message, and the precise and most appropriate audience, in addition to illustrating how to avoid potential mismanagement.