New Demicom book on rumours: Managing anxiety through effective crisis communication
How do rumors affect our ability to handle crises? And how can authorities and organizations respond to public concern in a constructive way? The new book "Rumors on the Agenda – Managing Public Concern Through Crisis Communication" provides answers to these questions.
The book offers both research-based knowledge and practical tools to meet one of the greatest communication challenges of our time.
The book is the result of a multi-year project with the goal of improving organizations' crisis management and changing the way we communicate during crises. It is the first of its kind to focus on rumours as a central factor in crisis communication – and how these affect both public behaviour and government actions.
"We saw a need to increase knowledge about how rumours arise, spread and affect society in crisis situations. It's not just about information – it's about worry, motivation and trust," says co-author Henrik Olinder, expert in crisis communication at MSB.
The book is aimed at students in media and communication studies, journalists, crisis managers and communication experts in government agencies, municipalities and organisations. It is divided into four parts that deal with:
- Mechanisms behind rumours and public unrest
- How crisis communication is affected by rumours – with both theory and practice
- Recommendations and advice based on different scenarios
- Four training scenarios for practical application
The book is authored by Gary Alan Fine, Henrik Olinder, Catrin Johansson and Lars Nord, whose work on part two was completed by Johansson after his death in August 2024.
"We hope that this book will be a support for everyone who works with planning and implementing crisis communication – from small municipalities to national authorities," says Catrin Johansson, professor of organizational communication at Mid Sweden University.
Rumors on the Agenda is not just a book – it is a tool for understanding and dealing with the uncertainty that rumors create in the moment of crisis.
Contacts:
Henrik Olinder: 0730-261291
Gary Alan Fine: +1(847)6508690
Catrin Johansson: 070-554 26 69
You can read the report here:
Rumors on the agenda – managing public concern through crisis communication