Communication amid Mega-Crises

Taking up the unique challenges of mega-crisis events, this book provides a framework for rethinking crisis approaches and designing a world that is better prepared to avoid or minimize these catastrophic events. In this book, the authors argue that mega-crisis events and phenomena, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, necessitate a shift from traditional managerial approaches to crises that operate within an assumed pre-crisis, crisis, post-crisis framework. They instead acknowledge the structural nature of mega-crises while putting at the center the role of communication to address these crises. The book considers the structural, social, political, economic, and cultural tenets of effective communication before and during mega-crisis events. It examines issues of leadership, inclusive messaging, and the politicization of risk, while addressing emerging challenges like the impact of AI and misinformation. This book is suited to advanced students and scholars within crisis communication, emergency management, public health, public administration, and interdisciplinary studies, and will be of interest to researchers in the public policy and community building arenas.