title: The Emergency Public Relations Protocol: How to Work Effectively on Controversial Projects in an Academic Health Setting.
abstract: Certain research topics - including studies of sexual behavior, substance use, and HIV risk -- are more likely to be scrutinized by the media and groups opposed to this area of research. When studying topics that others might deem controversial, it is critical that researchers anticipate potential negative media events prior to their occurrence. By developing anEmergency Public Relations Protocolat the genesis of a study, researchers can identify and plan for events that might result in higher scrutiny. For each identified risk, a good protocol details procedures to enact before, during and after a media event. This manuscript offers recommendations for developing a protocol based on both Situational Crisis Communication Theory and our experience as an HIV prevention research group who recently experienced such an event. The need to have procedures in place to monitor and address social media is highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
authors.forename: B R Simon
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Rosser
authors.forename: Gunna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kilian
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: West
keywords: Public relations; crisis communication; media attack; social media
references.citation: J Health Commun. 2003;8 Suppl 1:5-8; discussion 148-51
references.pmid: 14692565
references.citation: J Health Commun. 2005 Jan-Feb;10(1):43-55
references.pmid: 15764443
references.citation: Annu Rev Psychol. 1980;31:457-501
references.pmid: 20809783