By Steve Ifantis
On Wednesday, Sept. 18, The University of Tampa hosted a book launch for the edited volume Crisis Communication Case Studies on COVID-19 by Sarah Smith-Frigerio of UTampa — who has a doctorate in communication — and Mildred Perreault of University of South Florida — who has a doctorate in journalism. Held at the Charlene A. Gordon Theater in the Ferman Center for the Arts, the launch was an opportunity for students and faculty alike to hear about the critical role of communication during the pandemic and what it can mean for future crisis management. The book brings together case studies that explore how the development of communication was handled across industries, from public relations to medical, in the midst of a global crisis.
Director of the Center for Sustainable Democracy at USF, Joshua Scacco, Ph.D., moderated the event. He first pointed out that the pandemic was not only a health emergency but also a democratic one. Scacco praised the authors for their work, which he said “shines a light on the disruptions, tragedies, and possibilities” created within the pandemic. The book launch featured a moderated discussion led by Spectrum Bay News 9 reporter Saundra Weathers, who brought her professional expertise to the conversation, making it an engaging event.
Smith-Frigerio and Perreault shared personal stories of the challenges in compiling the book while the pandemic was still active. Smith-Frigerio and Perreault began the project in 2020, building off their shared interest in crisis communication. In their view, the authors did not need to give any retro look at COVID-19 but aimed to present lessons that would help future leaders, organizations, and communities manage crises more effectively. The uniqueness of Crisis Communication Case Studies on COVID-19 lies in its being cross-disciplinary, drawing insights from public relations, health communication, organizational strategy, and even social media.
As Perreault said, during COVID-19, crisis communication was never an organizational issue alone; it took place at many levels, from the family and community levels to the global level. The book has a chapter on Indigenous leadership and how women in those communities communicated to protect their elders. Another chapter talks about the conduit of social media platforms like TikTok to public health and emotional support. One section that really resonated with me related to the place of misinformation during the pandemic, especially within Asian American communities. Smith-Frigerio spoke to the chapter on the destructive #ChineseVirus hashtag and how this misinformation spreads xenophobia and violence. Another powerful section detailed how the Black Lives Matter movement intersects with COVID-19, poignantly showing how crisis communication evolves within a complex context.
It wasn’t just a review of the pandemic; it was one about how communications shape our society. As Smith-Frigerio noted, “This book is about more than public relations or journalism. It’s about how we respond as human beings to crises — through our words, our actions, and our stories.” Equally significant, this book stands out to me for one more thing: its accessibility. “We have written the case study-based book for a wide audience — scholars, students, professionals, and everyone interested in how society can work its way through a crisis,” said Perreault.
As the authors signed books and mingled with guests after the event, it was clear Crisis Communication Case Studies on COVID-19 had resonated with each of the participants. This is much more than another academic textbook; it is a living testimony to the power of communication in times of crisis. And in today’s world, still dealing with the pandemic’s repercussions, the lessons learned from this book adorn relevance like never before. For students at UTampa, the event was a robust example of how research done right on campus can have worldwide repercussions. Whether one is a communications major or not, the lessons from this book apply to anyone wanting to understand how crises shape the world and how we can rise to meet them.
Students are invited to contact the Department of Communication for further information on this book or any questions regarding the Master of Arts in Professional Communication program at UTampa.