Hello from Orlando. I am heading back to Louisville [fingers crossed for good flights and sae travels back to KY with this winter storm].
I am coming back from the International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference here in Orlando.
ICRC is one of my ALL-TIME favorite conferences. I have been to a lot, but there are few that really have built not only a great experience and atmosphere for the speakers and participants, but also creating an opportunity for collaboration with practitioners and fellow professionals.
I had the opportunity to present some research along with Kristin (my sister and fellow research collaborator) and Jim Satterfield and Karen Masullo (Firestorm Solutions). It was because of this conference I had the chance to not only meet both Jim and Karen, but have the opportunity to collaborate on this research project with them.
We have done several webinars and had a few blog features talking about our research over the last few months.
- Hootsuite [How to use Social Media Research in Crisis Simulation Practice]
- Hootsuite [Fear spreads faster than facts on social media]
- Firestorm Solutions Blog [Situational Q-sort]
The conference was truly amazing and a great opportunity for researchers, practitioners, and students to network and collaborate with each other.
I had a first for me as an assistant professor – I had my first graduate student present their research at an international research conference. Ben Garnett was about to share his insights on the research case study he has been working on and interviews with government officials on the use of social media in a crisis situation during the 2013 government shutdown.
In addition, there was another HUGE highlight for me during the time I spent at UCF for the conference. One of the main thought leaders, researchers, and inspiring crisis professors out there works at UCF, Dr. Tim Coombs.
Tim’s research and presentations are some of the most impactful and enlightening I have seen in the field. I have enormous respect for him as a person and researcher, and I use his work / textbooks in pretty much in all of my classes. When you look at people who are truly making a difference in the field, you see Tim Coombs.
A few weeks ago, he asked me if I could come by his graduate crisis class and give a guest lecture on my research in crisis communications and social media. I was honored by this and had the opportunity to chat with his graduate students (who were great!) and share what I am doing in terms of my consulting work as well as my research. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I can’t thank Tim enough for this amazing invitation. Thank you, Tim!
Overall, if you are a PR/Crisis/Social Media professional interested in a conference that brings forth new ideas, collaborations between professors and practitioners, and a fabulous learning experience, ICRC is THE conference to go to.
Special thanks to Robert Chandler and Tim Brown for their hospitality (and for remembering the great candy bar!) and the amazing team working the ICRC Conference. You all did an amazing job and can’t wait till next year!
Best Wishes,
