Journal Review 

This review would like to resuming two journals in the same field, Public Relations. The first journal entitle Attribution Theory as a Guide for Post-crisis Communication Research authorized by W. Timothy Coombs. The second journal entitle Apologies and Public Relations Crises  at Chrysler,  Toshiba,  and Volvo authorized by Keith Michael Hearit. Those journals are discussing about what the Public Relations need to do when facing the organization crisis.

The first journal proposed, in order to manage the communication crisis what Public Relations need to do is doing a research of post-crisis based on Attribution theory approach. They need to use attribution theory because basically this theory is analyzing why people do something. So in this case public relation need to find out why the crisis appeared then it can be explained clearly to the stakeholders why the crisis happened. The public relation need to do this because basically human’s nature when facing some problem is looking for something to be blamed. In order to not make the organization in difficult position, the public relation need to clarify clearly what makes the crisis occurred. But this explanation cant be a speculation, it must be a rigid and valid reason.

Shortly, Post-crisis communication research should continue along its newer, empirical track. Such research is providing tested results to crisis managers rather than speculation based on case studies. We move away from decisions based on unsystematic data toward evidence-based decisions. Attribution Theory is an historical and still viable theory for integrating crisis communication research. A common theoretical link allows for the integration of research from various researchers in diverse fields. We begin to build upon one another’s work and see how the pieces can begin to be integrated into a larger whole. Moreover, there is a broad research agenda to pursue based upon Attribution Theory. A partial list would include application of fundamental attribution error to crises and implications for crisis communication, the ability of crisis response strategies to shape perceptions of the crisis frames, how crisis response strategies can trigger the discounting principle, and relationship of crisis frames to counter-factual thinking. With Attribution Theory as a connecting point, diverse streams of research can converge into to a river of post-crisis communication knowledge that provides a mechanism for evidence-based crisis communication.

The next journal told us about the example of big company such Toshiba, Chrysler and Volvo manage the crisis. By giving those examples the writer wished the readers would take the best way on managing the crisis as a Public Relations.

Given  the  terminological  nature  of  crises,  crisis  management is a form  of  issue  management,  in  which  crisis  managers  attempt  to  control  the  terms used  to  describe  corporate  actions.  While  ultimate  determination  of  guilt  or  innocence  occurs  in  a courtroom,  organizational  communicators  realize  that  the  court  of public  opinion  adjudicates  a  verdict  that  they  can  ill  afford  to  lose.  With  increasing frequency,  corporations  publicly  respond  to  charges  of  wrongdoing  with  justifications  of  their  actions.

References:

Hearit, K. M. (1994). Apologies and public relations crises at Chrysler, Toshiba, and Volvo. Public Relation Review, 20(2), 113-125

Coombs, W. T. (2006). Attribution theory as a guide for post-crisis communication research. Public Relation Review, 33. 135-139




resumed by Ananda Nibras Khairunnisa (135120207121018)