Open AccessBlog Functions as Risk and Crisis Communication During Hurricane Katrina
Author(s) -
Macias Wendy,
Hilyard Karen,
Freimuth Vicki
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of computer‐mediated communication
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.15
H-Index - 119
ISSN - 1083-6101
DOI - 10.1111/j.1083-6101.2009.01490.x
Subject(s) - emotive , crisis communication , government (linguistics) , function (biology) , hurricane katrina , politics , public relations , political science , crisis response , sociology , natural disaster , geography , law , linguistics , philosophy , evolutionary biology , meteorology , anthropology , biology
Blogs were examined during the 2 weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. city of New Orleans to better understand what risk and crisis communication functions they served. The 4 major functions—communication, political, information, and helping—included both filtering and linking about rescue needs and efforts, missing persons, ways to offer and find assistance, fostering community, and providing information on damage and government response. A thinker function was fulfilled where bloggers expressed opinions, especially on government response. An additional function not previously delineated was identified, which might be termed emotive or therapeutic. In addition, several of the blog functions indicate the role the Internet plays in maintaining a sense of community in times of crisis.