Episode 5: Crises Create Crises: the IDEA Model and Higher Education

This is the second part of a series focused on strategic communication for higher education: sensitive and controversial issues.

In this episode, special guests and internationally recognized scholars of risk and crisis communication Deanna Sellnow, Ph.D. and Tim Sellnow, Ph.D. discuss how effective and simple strategic communication is central to reducing harm and saving lives in the face of a crisis. They also address how communicators and decision-makers at higher education institutions can apply the IDEA Model for Effective Instructional Risk and Crisis Communication to their communication strategy to ensure the plan is easy to understand, remember, and employ, particularly in advance of, during, and after a crisis. 

Episode Hosts:
Holly Hardin, Former Comms Analyst for DOE/ NNSA Enterprise & Emergency Management Lead at ORISE

Ron Edmond, Ed.D., Former Acting Director of ORISE Emergency Management Lab & Crisis Communication Subject Matter Expert

Special Guests:

Dr. Deanna Sellnow and Dr. Tim Sellnow are internationally recognized scholars of risk and crisis communication. They have worked with agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, United States Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Homeland Security, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and others to build theory and best practices for effective crisis and crisis planning, response, and recovery. They have published many articles and books that contribute to theory building and instruction for effective risk and crisis communication.

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Chapters

• 2:50 The IDEA Model
• 3:23 What gaps and challenges does the IDEA Model address?
• 5:07 How can the IDEA Model be applied to higher education institutions?
• 6:13 How do communicators ensure recipients understand the potential impact of the risk or crisis?
• 7:00 What process do universities use to engage with and understand their stakeholders?
• 8:37 How do universities determine the most effective channels of communication?
• 10:34 How do you determine the best communicator for the message to minimize the impact on the institutional community?
• 13:37 The “A” Aspect of the IDEA Model, “Action”
• 14:48 Create action plans
• 16:07 How has the IDEA Model been put into action?
• 23:47 Future Applications of the IDEA Model
• 25:04 Final Takeaway of the IDEA Model