Exploring Terror Victims’ Expectations of Government Communication

Abstract

At the time of a terror attack, victims yearn for messages from the government so that they can make decisions on their safety and security. When the government communicates, the victims form perceptions towards such communication. The perceptions that victims of terror hold are partly attributed to the expectations that the victims have of government communication. This study explored terror victims’ expectations of government communication. The study adopted a qualitative methodology and used hermeneutic phenomenological design. The findings showed that victims of terror have expectations of government communication ranging from the desire for personalized communication; agility in communication; transparent and prompt communication; well-coordinated messaging; and communicate power and authority. Different studies, both conceptual and speculative, point to the same expectations of the different audiences that consume government communication.