Crisis Communication Preparedness in Kenyan Churches: A Case Study of Parklands Baptist Church, Westlands
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Date
2024-08
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Daystar University, School of Communication
Abstract
Crisis communication preparedness is key for all organizations and moreso, the church in Kenya. An organization should ensure that they anticipate all forms of crises that they are predisposed to and come up with ways of handling them and communicating the same to their various stakeholders in a timely and efficient manner. This study, therefore, sought to find out the level of crisis communication preparedness at Parklands Baptist Church (PBC) Westlands. The study had three main objectives: To identify communication gaps at PBC during various stages of crisis communication, to identify the challenges faced in effective implementation of Crisis Communication Plan (CCP) at PBC and to establish the effectiveness of the PBC communication policy. The research employed the Situational Crisis Communication Theory proposed by Timothy Coombs in 2007. The researcher used qualitative method to collect data through in-depth interviews and policy document review. The study established that most of the employees at PBC are aware of the need for a clear CCP and team in order to effectively manage crisis as and when they arise. It also established that training of the staff and leadership is key for successful crisis management and for positive outcomes. However, the absence of a formalized crisis communication and management structure was found to impede the whole process of crisis management. This highlighted the importance of establishing clear protocols and designated teams to handle crises efficiently. Communication channels used during crises were diverse, including social media, email, meetings, and direct messaging. This drew attention to the need for multifaceted approaches to communication during crisis and adequate preparation by having a CCP and a crisis management team to effectively handle crisis in the church. Immediacy of response to all the relevant stakeholders was found to be important in order to have positive outcomes post-crisis.
Description
MASTER OF ARTS
in Communication
Keywords
Crisis communication, moreso
Citation
Nyaoke, W. A. (2024). Crisis Communication Preparedness in Kenyan Churches: A Case Study of Parklands Baptist Church, Westlands. Daystar University, School of Communication