Date of Award
5-2020
Degree Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Department
School of Professional Studies
Chief Instructor
Rich Aroian
Keywords
MPA, crisis communication, executive leadership, ethics, government
Abstract
This research thesis project is an analysis of how and why governments fail in their attempts at crisis communication. The hypotheses tested are: there exists a negative correlation between unethical leadership and successful crisis communication practices. And governments are more likely to experience these failures due to ethical disconnects in modern politics. Research includes a review of relevant academic literature regarding crisis communication theory, as well as the ethical framework that can be applied to that theory. Cases considered are Hurricane Katrina, the choking death of Eric Garner, and the COVID-19 global pandemic. The research project concludes with a recommendation for organizations to use the academic theories as tests, and the examples set by the specific organizations as tools with which to pass those tests.
Recommended Citation
Davidoff, Daniel, "Crisis Communication and Executive Leadership: Ethical Shortcomings in Government" (2020). School of Professional Studies. 39.
https://commons.clarku.edu/sps_masters_papers/39
Included in
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