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Effectively countering rumor, misinformation, and fear during times of crisis is the focus of a new doctorate program from the Nicholson School of Communication and Media.<\/p>\n
The Strategic Communication Ph.D. will provide hands-on instruction in developing potentially life-saving messaging for events from food recalls to mass shootings and natural disasters. It will also focus on theory and research for developing more effective models of crisis communication.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt runs the whole range of crises,\u201d explained Timothy Sellnow, Ph.D., director of graduate studies at Nicholson. \u201cStudents will be ready to respond from the outset of a crisis to the recovery stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program will emphasize public health safety, both reactionary \u2014like the current recall of E.coli-tainted Romaine lettuce \u2014 and more complicated campaigns like vaccination reminders. The latter is an important instructional element of crisis communication that helps people and their families take actions to protect themselves.<\/p>\n
The intended audience for the new program includes working professionals who want to teach and consult in strategic communications, along with current first responders. Graduates can go on to careers in agencies like the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are people who are highly interested in building their communication skills and deeply committed to the focus of the program,\u201d Sellnow said. \u201cOur mantra is: \u2018The right words at the right time save lives.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n