MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS: THE CASE OF KYIV CITY STATE ADMINISTRATION

Abstract

This article analyzes the crisis communication tools used by local authorities before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, during the pandemic, and following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and the subsequent introduction of martial law. The focus is on using media technologies in communication with residents of the capital to manage the crises stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, using the Kyiv City State Administration’s crisis communication as a case study. The study identifies the media technologies and platforms employed by the Kyiv City State Administration during this period. It traces shifts in priority media technologies after the outbreak, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine while also analyzing the quantitative audience dynamics on the Administration’s media platforms. Specific examples are presented and analyzed. The use of observation methods, systematic analysis of official press releases and public statements, and comparative analysis of official reports from the Kyiv City State Administration enable us to track the evolution of media technologies in the crisis communication of the Kyiv city government. It is noted that as the nature of the crises evolved, not only did the media technologies used for communication between residents and the city government of Kyiv change, but so did the content of the messages. It is established that emergencies have shaped a specific toolkit for communicative interaction between the Kyiv City State Administration and the residents of Kyiv. In particular, in crisis conditions, the city authorities adopted a direct approach to information dissemination through media platforms, providing rapid and reliable information that has contributed to safeguarding the lives and health of citizens.