The Role of Public Relations in Crisis Management in Media Organizations Case Study: Standard Media Group, Kenya.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................... .i APPROVAL ...................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ................................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .............................................................................................. .iv ACRONOMYS ................................................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ vi ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................... vii

CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................ I I. I Back ground of the study .. _. ........................................................................................... , I 1.2 Problem statement ......................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Objectives ..................................................................................................................... .4 1.4 Research question ......................................................................................................... .4 1.5 Scope of the study ......................................................................................................... .4 1.6 Significance of the study ............................................................................................... 5 1.7 Conceptual framework ........................................................................... 6

CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................... 8 2. 0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 The role of public relations in crisis management.. ....................................................... 7 2.2 Establishing the level of knowledge in Crisis management ......................................... 9 2.3 Factors affecting Crisis management .......................................................................... 1 O 2.4 Improved public relations lead to crisis management ................................................. 12 2.5 Critical Need of a Crisis Management Plan ................................................................ 13 2.6 Models and Theories of Crisis management ................................................ .13 2.7 Summary of the Chapter. ............ .' ......................................................... 14

CHAPTER THREE ......................................................................................................... 15 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 15 3 .2 Research design ........................................................................................................... 15 3 .3 Area of study ............................................................................................................... 15 3.4 The study Population ............................................................................ 15 3.5 Sampling size ............................................................................................................... 16 3.6 Sampling Procedure ..................................................................................................... 16 3.7 Data collection Tools ................................................................................................... 16 3.7.l Instruments For Data Collection .............................................................................. 16 3.8 Validity and reliability ofinstruments ........................................................................ 17 3.9 Procedure in data Collection .................................................................. 17 3. 9. I Data Management and Analysis ............................................................................... 18 3.9.2 Limitations of the study ...................................................................... 19

CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................ .20 4.0 Introduction ....................................................................................... 20 4.1 Background Information ...................................................................... .20 4.2 Verification of Research Questions .......................................................... 24 4.3 Research Question One ......................................................................... 24 4.4 Research Question Two ....................................................................... .27 4.5 Research Question Three ...................................................................... .31 4.6 Research Question Four. ...................................................................... .33

CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................. .35 5.0 Introduction ...................................................................................... 35 5.1 Discussion ....................................................................................... 35 5.2 Research question One ......................................................................... .35 5.3 Research Question Two ....................................................................... .36 5.4 Research Question Three ................. · ..................................................... .37 5.5 Research Question Four ...................................................................... .39 5.6 Conclusion ...................................................................................... .40 5.7 Recommendation ................................................................................ 41

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................ 42 APPENDIX ......................................................................................... .44 QUESTIONNAIRE FOR SMG EMPLOYEES .............................................. .44

ABSTRACT

Crises can affect all segments of society - businesses, churches, educational institutions, families, non-profits and the government and are caused by a wide range of reasons. Although the definitions can vary greatly, three elements are common to most definitions of crisis: a threat to the organization, the element of surprise, and a short decision time Seeger, Sellnow & Ulmer, (1998). How can a PR come up with measures to deal with crises in an organization. This research is therefore intended to show the liµkage and relevance of Public relations in crisis managements. PR can be used to build rapport with employees, customers, investors, voters, or the general public. Public relations (PR) is the practice of managing the flow ofinformation between an organization and the public. The study was driven by Four objectives: To analyse the role of public relations in crisis management at Standard Media Group, To establish the level of knowledge in Crisis management among the public relations staff of Standard Media Group, To examine the factors affecting Crisis management with regard to public relations in Standard Media Group, To establish whether lesser public relations leads to crisis management The sample size comprises a total of 60 people however 10 people will be interviewed for the study.50 people will respond through the questionnaire. 30 clients and 20 full time employees. The study utilises qualitative research methods, two data collection instruments were used: Structured questionnaire and interviews .The collected data was presented in tabular and figurative forms and analyzed statistically to decipher findings