Climate Crisis Communication in Global News Videos

Abstract

Maier and Ravazzani's chapter provides an exciting new direction for research methods in crisis communication by proposing a multimodal discourse analysis method. The multimodal discourse analysis method provides for the systematic investigation of global news videos dealing with the global climate crisis. Maier and Ravazzani argue this qualitative method allows to address issues of knowledge and reaction management in crisis communication beyond textual elements. Maier and Ravazzani systematically explore their new method to explain the sensemaking and sensegiving processes occurring across several semiotic resources, CNN news videos focused on the global climate crisis. Maier and Ravazzani explain how the multimodal discourse analysis provides researchers with the analytical tools necessary for examining in detail how the strategic choice of each semiotic resource and their dynamic interplay contribute to crisis meaning construction. The chapter notes that acquiring knowledge about the interdependent roles of various semiotic resources in crisis communication can help practitioners use them strategically for increasing the credibility and integrity of their communicative efforts in various crisis contexts and for various audiences. Maier and Ravazzani provides a fascinating option for those looking to explore discourse in crisis communication from a multimodal perspective. Maier and Ravazzani's work shares a focus on the visual elements of crisis communication found in Chapter 28 by Emmons.