16th December 2008

Email this Page |

Despite the prevalence of Public Relations experts and ‘spin doctors’ in today’s business environment and public life, many major organisations still do not pay enough attention to the basics of crisis communications, according to PhD student Patricia Connolly, who receives her doctorate at Jordanstown this week.
 
Patricia’s research examined the way in which the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland reacted to the child sex abuse revelations that have rocked the institution in recent years. As part of her research, she conducted a survey and a series of confidential interviews with clergymen, representatives of victims groups, and church leaders to assess how they were affected by the crisis and how they responded to the communication issues opened up as the controversy unfolded.
 
“Like many large organisations,” she said, “ the Roman Catholic Church’s internal structural complexities hindered effective, strategic management of its communications: a lack of clear reporting lines had a detrimental effect on the Church’s ability to put in place effective communications management of the crisis."
 
“The result was that the reputation damage suffered by the Church was dragged out over a very long period, intensifying the adverse impacts – both short-term and long-term - on the organisation.”

Her message: “If there is bad news, get it all into the public domain – fast. The longer an adverse story runs, the greater the potential hit to the organisation’s reputation and the impact on the victims of the crisis can be prolonged.”
 
Since completing her thesis, Ballymoney woman Patricia has begun a career in academic life, becoming a Lecturer in Health Communication at the University of Ulster.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Trina Porter
Telephone: 028 71675511
Email: Trina Porter