This course examines the interdisciplinary and relational nature of issues and crisis communication from conceptual and practical perspectives.

Issues management is a managerial process that acts to provide a response strategy and early warning tool for issues that have the potential to impact organisations. The successful management of issues reduces the likelihood of crisis. Crisis management is the related process involving the development and application of strategies aimed at helping an organisation successfully deal with a sudden and negative event.

Issues and crisis communication refers to the PR-specific practices that emerge from these processes.

Through a range of case studies, this course will explore how issues and crisis impact upon organisations across the business, community, government, and not-for-profit sectors, and will engage in depth with the role of issues and crisis management and communication in strategic planning.