Crisis Communication unit (HEJ244)

Hobart

Introduction

Risk and crisis are defining features of contemporary life, and organisations and communities are increasingly planning for climate crises, including strategies for communicating risk and change. Crisis communications and management are relevant to all media content creators. You will learn how to decode time-sensitive information and distil complex information to respond to dynamic scenarios. You will apply strategies and tools commonly used in crisis communication such as stakeholder management, emergency communications and political messaging, drawing on a range of contemporary case studies.

Summary

Unit name	Crisis Communication
Unit code	HEJ244
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Arts and Society Humanities and Social Sciences
Discipline	Media
Coordinator	Doctor Claire Konkes
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Intermediate

Availability

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 2	4/7/2027	26/7/2027	29/8/2027	23/10/2027

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2027 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2027 will be available from the 1st October 2026. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Identify the construction, dissemination and interpretation of crisis communication strategies in different organisational contexts
• Explain the barriers and contingencies that hinder or support emergency responses and other forms of crisis communication
• Develop best practice crisis communication plans for various hypothetical scenarios
• Critique the ethical implications of crisis communication decisions and strategies.

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Requisites

Prerequisites

12.5 credit points in Media and Communication

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	Weekly, 30 minutes lecture and 30 minute independent learning activity Weekly, Two hour tutorial
Assessment	Australian Crisis case study (30%)|Communicating risk, preparing for crisis (30%)|Crisis communication (40%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.