Communication Strategy Effectiveness in Crisis Management: Analysis of Media Response to the Murray Wildfires
Overview
This paper examines the Murray Wildfires catastrophe in Alberta, Canada, and evaluates the communication strategy employed by the Financial Post in disseminating information about the disaster. The analysis critiques the direct communication approach used, highlighting its ineffectiveness due to lack of verification, emotional reporting from public sources, and compromised information balance influenced by external pressures from business stakeholders.
What this essay covers
- Introduction to the catastrophic event: Overview of the Murray Wildfires' impact on Alberta's economy, buildings, and population
- Communication strategy analysis: Examination of the Financial Post's direct communication approach, including reporter difficulties and reliance on external sources
- Effectiveness evaluation: Critical assessment of whether the direct communication strategy was effective, identifying challenges such as lack of planning and information verification
Preview
Catastrophic Event
Student’s Name
Institution
Catastrophic Event
The catastrophic event was the Murray Wildfires, which consumed more than 2,100 buildings and around 21,000 hectares in Alberta, Canada. The fire was very massive, consequently crippling the economy of Alberta and made it come to a standstill. There was a case of insurers with problems of compensation because the majority of the buildings affected did not comply with the established procedures. Additionally, insurance companies found it too difficult to handle the issue of compensation for the buildings that had been burned down (Stevens, 2018). For a long time, there had been no such massive fire tragedy that affected Canada as previous fires did not affect the economy as it happened in Alberta. Many people were left homeless, buildings burned down, businesses closed, and wild animals lacked a place to reside because forests were destroyed.
Communication Strategy
The communication strategy used by the Financial Post was direct communication. This is a form of communication where reporters sent reports to the editor in chief before it was published for public consumption. Reporters experienced difficulties in releasing the information to the people. Additionally, the media house also relied on information from external sources, particularly members of the public who had been affected by the tragedy. It was difficult for Financial Post reporters because they were not able to access certain areas affected by wildfires (Stevens, 2018). There was also conflicting information coming from members of the public.