"An important college-level guide for both undergrad and graduate courses in public relations, management, or crisis communications." 

                                                                                           -MBR:INTERNET BOOKWATCH

"This new second edition of a classic updates crisis examples and case studies but retains its multidisciplinary coverage to provide an integrated approach to crisis communication and the entire management process."                                             
                                                                                           -THE MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

"The new edition updates an immensely valuable book for students and practitioners. If you want to learn how to prepare for the inevitable crises that occur in organizations, then you need to read this book.”

-Phillip G. Clampitt, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay

“Once again, Dr. Coombs’ book has set the standard by which all other books on crisis management are measured. This book is well written, thoroughly researched, and contains both historical and up-to-date crisis examples. It owns the market, as far as I’m concerned. There is nothing better.”

-Keith M. Hearit, Western Michigan University

Ongoing Crisis Communication: Planning, Managing, and Responding, Second Edition provides an integrated approach to crisis communication that spans various disciplines as well as the entire crisis management process. Drawing on firsthand experience in crisis management, author W. Timothy Coombs uses a three-staged approach to crisis management-pre-crisis, crisis, and post-crisis. A truly integrative and comprehensive text, this book explains how crisis management can prevent or reduce the threats of a crisis, providing guidelines for how best to act and react in an emergency situation.

New to the Second Edition:

· Provides new and updated crises examples and case studies throughout: The book includes new coverage of terrorist threats and draws upon recent work from management, public relations, organizational psychology, marketing, organizational communication, and computer-mediated communication research.

· Explores the role of the Internet and new technologies: This edition provides expanded and integrated coverage on the growing importance of the online environment to crisis communication and management.

· Offers a stronger discussion of crisis exercises: Expanded “What Would You Do” mini-cases allow the reader to apply book concepts to short cases based on actual events.

· Includes a new case study appendix: Readers can use the list to select a case for further study.

Intended Audience:

This text is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses such as Public Relations Cases, Public Relations Management, and Crisis Communication. Its interdisciplinary perspective also makes it an excellent text for Corporate Communication and Management courses in the department of business & management.

This book is it.

The author compiles research from a vast number of fields, as well as adding some of his own analysis resulting from a distinguished professional and academic career. The final product is the best "holistic" guide to crisis management I've ever read. Although it is a slim volume, it took me a couple of weeks to read, take notes, and reflect on the contents--it's that densely packed with ideas and information.

I personally found that it re-sparked my excitement and enthusiasm for this complex, challenging field.