<p>The focus of this dissertation is on how communication regarding work environment and work related risks can be understood from an organizational communication perspective. Based on a case study of communication about work environment and work related risks in the Swedish forest industry, the present study discusses institutional influences on organizational sense making processes. A central question has been how to understand the organizational field as a cultural and communicative arena where concepts and ideas connected with issues in the field are communicated between different actors.</p><p>The empirical data was gathered using different methods. A questionnaire aiming at screening media habits and information gathering strategies of forest machine contractors was used. Based on information from that screening, mass media content was analysed, such as daily newspapers, trade press and advertisements for forest machines. Also, interviews with actors in the field were analysed thematically with respect to how to unveil hidden key symbols and cultural valuations of forest machine work, the work environment and how to handle work related risks in forest work. The key symbols that were identified to organise conceptions about forest work and occupational risks connected with it contained information about different attitudes towards how to handle risks and other problems in the work environment. Two main types of conceptions were identified, technologically oriented conceptions and person oriented conceptions.</p><p>The analysis revealed a fragmented picture of forest work. Yet, the picture was more or less common to the organizational field as a whole. Building on institutional theory and theories of sense making, the study results in a deeper understanding of sense making in relation to work environmental issues by applying an organizational dimension to risk communication in an organizational field.</p>

The focus of this dissertation is on how communication regarding work environment and work related risks can be understood from an organizational communication perspective. Based on a case study of communication about work environment and work related risks in the Swedish forest industry, the present study discusses institutional influences on organizational sense making processes. A central question has been how to understand the organizational field as a cultural and communicative arena where concepts and ideas connected with issues in the field are communicated between different actors. The empirical data was gathered using different methods. A questionnaire aiming at screening media habits and information gathering strategies of forest machine contractors was used. Based on information from that screening, mass media content was analysed, such as daily newspapers, trade press and advertisements for forest machines. Also, interviews with actors in the field were analysed thematically with respect to how to unveil hidden key symbols and cultural valuations of forest machine work, the work environment and how to handle work related risks in forest work. The key symbols that were identified to organise conceptions about forest work and occupational risks connected with it contained information about different attitudes towards how to handle risks and other problems in the work environment. Two main types of conceptions were identified, technologically oriented conceptions and person oriented conceptions. The analysis revealed a fragmented picture of forest work. Yet, the picture was more or less common to the organizational field as a whole. Building on institutional theory and theories of sense making, the study results in a deeper understanding of sense making in relation to work environmental issues by applying an organizational dimension to risk communication in an organizational field.

The first paper examines the value of a statistical life (VSL) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) victims. We found VSL values to be higher for OHCA victims than for people who die in road traffic accidents and a lower-bound estimate of VSL for OHCA would be in the range of 20 to 30 million Swedish crowns (SEK). The second paper concerns hypothetical bias in contingent valuation (CV) studies. We investigate the link between the determinants and empirical treatment of uncertainty through certainty calibration and find that the higher the confidence of the respondents the more we can trust that stated WTP is correlated to actual WTP. The third paper investigates the performance of two communication aids (a flexible community analogy and an array of dots) in valuing mortality risk reductions for OHCA. The results do not support the prediction of expected utility theory, i.e. that WTP for a mortality risk reduction increases with the amount of risk reduction (weak scope sensitivity), for any of the communication aids. The fourth paper presents a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the effects of dual dispatch defibrillation by ambulance and fire services in the County of Stockholm. The intervention had positive economic effects, yielding a benefit-cost ratio of 36, a cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) of € 13 000 and the cost per saved life was € 60 000. The fifth paper explores how different response times from OHCA to defibrillation affect patients’ survival rates by using geographic information systems (GIS). The model predicted a baseline survival rate of 3.9% and reducing the ambulance response time by 1 minute increased survival to 4.6%. The sixth paper analyzes demographic determinants of incident experience and risk perception, and the relationship between the two, for eight different risk domains. Males and highly educated respondents perceive their risks lower than what is expected compared to actual incident experience.

本研究從風險傳播的觀點，以2013年台灣爆發的食用油事件為例，探討媒體如何再現食品安全事件的樣貌？報導中呈現哪些食品安全資訊？其中有哪些是與風險相關的資訊？不同媒體又有何不同的報導策略？本研究採用量化內容分析與新聞框架分析，分析《中國時報》、《自由時報》、《聯合報》與《蘋果日報》等四大報的食用油報導。研究發現，食用油報導高度仰賴政府消息來源，專家與民間的聲音相對微弱；新聞主題偏重事件調查與責任追究；新聞框架側重政治面向，而較不重視科學面向；風險評估資訊包含「影響危害」、「風險知識」、「安全處理」和「檢驗結果公布」等四個項目，含有風險評估資訊的報導佔整體報導數量六成，其中以「檢驗結果公布」比例最高，較缺乏「影響危害」與「安全處理」資訊。本研究根據研究發現，對新聞實務工作與未來研究提出建議，並指出食品安全報導應該提供哪些風險相關資訊，足以讓民眾評估風險，以避免恐慌。

For business organizations the concept of risk has always been important. Lately, this importance has been enhanced due to a number of corporate and societal circumstances. New and previously unconsidered risks are gaining increased significance in the overall risk management of many companies. This doctoral thesis takes a wide approach and examines factors relating to the evolving area of operational risk management. It focuses on risks that concern firms’ operations rather than merely financial risk exposures. The thesis consists of four empirical studies that address diverse but interrelated aspects of operational risk in Swedish industry settings. Building on four sets of independent data collections, they apply both quantitative and qualitative methods. The thesis reports results of operational risk management regarding organizational aspects, perceived challenges, the regulative environment, current societal and business trends, and various stakeholders. Issues like trust, risk perception, risk communication, corporate value, reputation, and brand value are also discussed. On the whole, the empirical findings indicate that a new risk paradigm has emerged. As society has boosted the management of various risks as a corporate responsibility, the costs of failing to manage such risks have increased substantially. / Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögskolan, 2009 Sammanfattning jämte 4 uppsatser

Thesis (M.T.S.C.)--Miami University, Dept. of English, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 31).

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Health scientists agree that the media is a crucial conduit for communicating life-saving, preventative and curative health messages to a wider audience. They also concur that they are the gatekeepers, and the responsibility of communicating their findings and health information to the public rests with them. And yet, their relationship with journalists is often unhealthy and in need of attention. Many health scientists lack knowledge and understanding about who the media are, and what they require to do the job of reporting ethically and professionally. They often lack the skills needed to frame simple, succinct messages timeously, especially on controversial issues such as vaccines and drug safety, immunisation and drug treatment for infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS. This study argues that health scientists/professionals globally, irrespective of culture, ethnicity, creed, language or media systems, need training on how to communicate with the media in the interests of public health. This is especially so in the modern world with its complex, high-speed communication. The objective of the study was to assess the impact of a WHO media communication training programme for health scientists worldwide. More specifically, the study sought to shed light on whether the training shifted their perceptions and attitudes to the media. And, if so, in what way? It also aimed to find out if the trainees learned any skills on how to deal with reporters. The research methodology was qualitative. A review of the literature, to establish current thinking in the field, was followed by interviews with health professionals. The interviewees are from China, South Africa and Ghana and received the same basic training either in South Africa, China or Sri Lanka. Some were trained in 2005, others in 2004 and others before that. Most had been trained together with participants from other countries. Two focus groups were conducted in China before and after training. Included, is an account of the aims and objectives of each module of the actual training. The study also made use of WHO documents and news and feature articles from newspapers, radio and the internet. Most participants had never had media communication training but had been interviewed by reporters. While some had positive experiences, others felt bruised by their interactions with journalists. After training, however, they registered a shift in attitude toward feeling more positive and less fearful of the media. They felt more confident and better equipped to engage with journalists. Most participants desired more training to consolidate the skills that they had learned. Some had managed to put the training to good use by developing similar programmes in their own country. Others who were trained more recently were enthusiastic about the prospect of sharing ideas with colleagues. Those who were unlikely to deal with the media directly said they felt they could at last contribute to discussions on the media in the workplace. The WHO training, albeit a first step aimed at bridging the gap between health professionals and journalists, goes a long way in addressing the frustrations and the complexities of dealing with the media. Health professionals want to communicate because they need to reach their target population, the ordinary person in the street. Training and facilitation can empower health professionals to deal constructively with the media in getting health messages to the public. This training programme, which imparts practical skills including how to prepare and manage interviews, could be adapted to meet the needs of scientists from different disciplines. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gesondheidswetenskaplikes is dit eens dat die media ‘n uiters belangrike middel is om lewensreddende, voorkomende en genesende gesondheidsboodskappe aan ‘n groter gehoor oor te dra. Hulle stem ook saam dat hulle die hekwagters is en die verantwoordelikheid het om hul bevindinge en gesondheidsinligting aan die publiek oor te dra. Tog is hul verhouding met joernaliste dikwels ongesond en sorgwekkend. Talle gesondheidswetenskaplikes het geen kennis en begrip van wie die media is en wat hulle nodig het om hul taak – verslaggewing – eties en professioneel te verrig nie. Hulle kort dikwels die vaardighede om eenvoudige, saaklike boodskappe betyds te formuleer, veral as dit kom by omstrede aangeleenthede soos veilige entstowwe en medisyne, immunisering en medisyne vir die behandeling van aansteeklike siektes. Hierdie studie voer aan dat wetenskaplikes/gesondheidsberoepslui wêreldwyd – ongeag kultuur, etnisiteit, geloof, taal of mediastelsels – ‘n behoefte het aan opleiding om beter met die media te kommunikeer ter wille van openbare gesondheid. Dit is veral belangrik vir die ingewikkelde en snelle kommunikasie van die moderne wêreld. Die doel van die studie was om die uitwerking van ‘n wêreldwye opleidingsprogram van die WGO oor kommunikasie met die media te bepaal. Die studie het meer spesifiek probeer lig werp op die vraag of die opleiding hul begrip van en ingesteldheid teenoor die media verander het. En, indien wel, op watter manier? Dit het ook probeer vasstel of deelnemers enige vaardighede aangeleer het oor hoe om met verslaggewers om te gaan. ‘n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodiek is gevolg. Bestaande literatuur is bestudeer om huidige denkrigtings op die gebied te bepaal, waarna onderhoude met gesondheidsberoepslui asook ‘n TV-gesondheidsverslaggewer van Beijing, China, gevoer is. Die ondervraagdes kom van China, Suid-Afrika en Ghana en het dieselfde basiese opleiding in Suid-Afrika, China of Sri Lanka ondergaan. Sommige is in 2005 opgelei, party in 2004 en ander vroeër. Die meeste is saam met deelnemers van ander lande opgelei. Twee fokusgroepe is voor en ná opleiding in China bestudeer. ‘n Verslag oor die oogmerke en doelwitte van elke module van die werklike opleiding is ingesluit. Die studie het ook gebruik gemaak van WGO-dokumente, nuus- en artikels uit nuusblaaie, die radio en die internet. Die meeste deelnemers het nooit opleiding in mediakommunikasie gehad nie, hoewel verslaggewers al onderhoude met hulle gevoer het. Terwyl dit vir sommige ‘n aangename ondervinding was, het ander nie goeie herinneringe aan hul interaksie met joernaliste nie. Ná opleiding het hulle egter getuig van ‘n positiewer gesindheid teenoor en minder vrees vir die media. Die meerderheid van die deelnemers wou graag verdere opleiding hê om hul pas verworwe vaardighede uit te bou. Party kon selfs soortgelyke programme in hul eie lande ontwikkel. Van die meer onlangse deelnemers was geesdriftig oor die vooruitsig om gedagtes met kollegas te wissel. Diegene wat waarskynlik nie veel met die media te doen sou hê nie, het gesê hulle kon nou minstens by die werk aan gesprekke oor die media deelneem. Hoewel dit maar die eerste tree is om die gaping tussen gesondheidsberoepslui en joernaliste te oorbrug, slaag die WGO se opleiding in ‘n groot mate daarin om die frustrasies en verwikkeldhede van omgang met die media te oorkom. Mense in die gesondheidsberoepe wil graag kommunikeer omdat hulle hul teikenbevolking – die gewone mense – moet bereik. Opleiding en tussentrede kan hulle toerus om konstruktief met die media om te gaan ten einde gesondheidsboodskappe aan die publiek oor te dra. Hierdie opleidingsprogram kan aangepas word om in die behoeftes van wetenskaplikes in verskeie vakgebiede te voorsien.

Based on Risk Communication assumptions, this paper investigates the relationship between sources and journalists in covering disasters, to evaluate what is the role of the journalist and point out some elements that might contribute to a quality coverage. Methodologically, this paper is based on literature review and individual and semi-open interviews. From the analysis of six months of Zero Hora editions, we mapped and interviewed the expert sources used by the newspaper in articles related to disasters involving climate. We also interviewed the journalists authors of disaster related articles, to know how they deal with the challenge of covering climate and how they relate to the experts. Through interviews, this paper presents the capabilities and antagonisms present in the relationship between journalistic and expert sources fields. This dissertation is divided into three chapters. The first chapter, Society and Risk Communication , addresses the concepts of Risk Society and Risk Communication. The second chapter, entitled social fields and journalistic sources in news coverage of disasters , discusses the concept of field, the specifics and relations between fields, and also the concept of source. The last chapter, The vision of experts on the news coverage of disasters , analyzes interviews with the expert sources and journalists and proposes some actions to guide the journalistic work. The analysis of the interviews is divided into two parts. The first concerns the logic and operation of the journalistic field and covers: news values, determination and relationship between sources and experts. The second part seeks to establish elements for a protocol of action and is divided into three parts: Before: the necessity of prevention , Moment of crisis: precautions and limits to journalists in a disaster and After the disaster: the journalistic oversight . The paper concludes that, like other fields, journalism needs protocols for dealing with risk situations. Moreover, there is still much to advance in the dialog between journalistic field and expert sources, a relationship that has incompabilities, especially considering that the two fields follow a different logic. We understand that the journalist can not be just a witness of facts, but must have an intellectual work to analyze it and understand its role within the network of disasters, in view of the social role of journalism. This dissertation is part of the Media and Identity line of research, because it comprises journalism within the sociocentric paradigm and takes into account the actions of society along with journalism, highlighting the active paper of journalists in the production of information. / A partir dos pressupostos da Comunicação de risco, o trabalho investiga as relações entre fontes e jornalistas na cobertura de desastres, para avaliar o papel do jornalista e apontar alguns elementos que possam contribuir com uma cobertura de qualidade. Metodologicamente, o trabalho baseia-se em revisão bibliográfica e em entrevistas individuais e semiabertas. A partir da análise de seis meses de edições Zero Hora, mapeamos e entrevistamos as fontes especializadas utilizadas pelo jornal nas matérias relativas a desastres que envolvem o clima. Também entrevistamos os jornalistas autores de matérias sobre desastres, para saber como eles lidam com o desafio de cobrir o tema e como se relacionam com os especialistas. Por meio das entrevistas, o trabalho apresenta as compatibilidades e os antagonismos presentes na relação entre o campo jornalístico e os campos das fontes especializadas. A dissertação divide-se em três capítulos. No primeiro capítulo, A sociedade e a comunicação no contexto dos riscos , aborda-se o conceito de Sociedade de risco e de Comunicação de risco. O segundo capítulo, intitulado Campos sociais e fontes jornalísticas na cobertura de desastres , discute o conceito de campo, as especificidades e as relações entre os campos, além do conceito de fonte. Já o último capítulo, A visão dos especialistas sobre a cobertura jornalística de desastres , analisa as entrevistas com as fontes especialistas e com os jornalistas e propõe algumas ações para nortear o trabalho jornalístico. A análise das entrevistas está dividida em duas partes. A primeira diz respeito à lógica e ao funcionamento do campo jornalístico e abrange valores-notícias, apuração e relação entre fontes e especialistas. A segunda parte busca estabelecer elementos para um protocolo de ação e está divida em três partes: Antes do desastre: a necessidade da prevenção , Momento de crise: os cuidados e limites para os jornalistas em um desastre e Após o desastre: a fiscalização jornalística . Com o trabalho conclui que, assim como outros campos, o jornalismo precisa de protocolos para lidar com situações de riscos. Além disso, ainda há muito para se avançar no diálogo entre o campo jornalístico e as fontes especializadas, uma relação que apresenta incompatibilidades, principalmente tendo em vista que os campos seguem lógicas diferentes. Entendemos que o jornalista não pode ser apenas um testemunho dos fatos, mas tem que realizar um trabalho intelectual para analisá-lo e compreender a sua função e seu papel dentro da rede de desastres, tendo em vista o papel social do jornalismo. A dissertação insere-se na linha de pesquisa Mídia e identidade porque compreende o jornalismo no interior do paradigma sociocêntrico e leva em consideração as ações da sociedade junto ao jornalismo, destacando o papel ativo dos jornalistas na produção da informação.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This research aims at analyzing the level of participation of traditional communities from the lower São Francisco, particularly the Indigenous Xokó Community and the Quilombola Community of Resina, in the process of communicating socio-environmental risks concerning the transposition of the São Francisco, as well as their contributions to the public opinion in Sergipe concerning this project. This study was conducted in the light of Convention 169 of ILO, concerning indigenous and tribal societies. Two hypotheses shall be proved: first, the low level of participation from traditional communities in the process of communicating socio-environmental risk is caused by a “non recognition” of these social actors as actors of speech, since both the managers of the project and the press from Sergipe refuse to take into account the experiences and perceptions from these communities concerning the river and the environment in which they live. Second, the restriction of these actors when it comes to the public sphere implies a reduction of their influence on the public opinion of Sergipe concerning the transposition. The methodology we used was the participative research, with a qualitative approach. The methodological procedure is divided in three steps: bibliographical research, which is highly important in any scientific enquiry; field research, with an ethnographic emphasis, which allows a better understanding of the social, cultural and work relations the traditional communities hold with the São Francisco; and documental research, which is fundamental to understand the level of participation these communities have in the communicative process. This research has an interdisciplinary character, since it deals with different areas of knowledge, such as environmental sciences, humanities and applied social sciences. The results clarify that, through the entire process of communicating the socio-environmental risks of the transposition, the traditional communities we observed had their right to participation neglected by both the public power and the press. They claim their access to information was minimal, and the only way available for them to communicate with other parts of society consisted of popular manifestations, organized by social movements. Therefore, the restricted access to the public sphere made it impossible for the experiences and perceptions coming from traditional communities to influence the public opinion of Sergipe when it came to the project of transposition of the waters of the São Francisco River, weakening the democratic process. / Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar o nível de participação das comunidades tradicionais do Baixo São Francisco, especialmente a Comunidade Indígena Xokó e a Comunidade Quilombola da Resina, no processo de comunicação dos riscos socioambientais da transposição do rio São Francisco e quais foram suas contribuições para a formação da opinião pública sergipana sobre o projeto hídrico. A presente pesquisa foi realizada à luz da Convenção 169 da OIT, sobre povos indígenas e tribais. Duas hipóteses serão comprovadas: primeira, o baixo nível de participação das comunidades tradicionais no processo de comunicação dos riscos socioambientais deve-se a um “não reconhecimento” desses atores sociais enquanto atores de fala, pois tanto o gestor do projeto quanto a imprensa sergipana desconsideram as experiências e as percepções dessas comunidades em relação ao rio e ao ambiente em que vivem; segunda, a restrição desses atores sociais na esfera pública acaba por reduzir também a influência dos mesmos na formação da opinião pública sergipana no que concerne à transposição. A metodologia utilizada é a pesquisa participante, com uma abordagem qualitativa. Seu procedimento metodológico está dividido em três etapas: a pesquisa bibliográfica, imprescindível em qualquer investigação científica; a pesquisa de campo, com um caráter etnográfico, que possibilita um melhor entendimento sobre as relações sociais, culturais e de trabalho das comunidades tradicionais com o rio São Francisco; e a pesquisa documental, fundamental para compreender o nível de participação dessas comunidades no processo comunicativo. Esta pesquisa insere-se no campo Interdisciplinar, pois dialoga com diversas áreas do conhecimento, a exemplo das Ciências Ambientais, Ciências Humanas e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas. Os resultados evidenciam que durante todo o processo de comunicação dos riscos socioambientais da transposição as comunidades tradicionais observadas tiveram seu direito à participação negligenciado pelo poder público e pela imprensa. Elas afirmam que o acesso à informação foi mínimo e a única forma de se comunicar com os demais membros da sociedade foi por meio de manifestações populares, organizadas por movimentos sociais. Por conseguinte, o acesso restrito à esfera pública impossibilitou que as experiências e percepções dessas comunidades tradicionais influenciassem a opinião pública sergipana sobre o projeto de transposição das águas do rio São Francisco, enfraquecendo o processo democrático.

O presente trabalho compreende o estudo de campanhas de comunicação de racionamento de água e luz elétrica pela ótica dos conceitos de dilema social e comunicação de riscos. Para tal, revisamos a bibliografia desses temas e elaboramos uma proposta de análise de conteúdo temática que busca identificar valores e normas sociais desses conceitos nas campanhas publicitárias de dois casos brasileiros escolhidos. / This dissertation involves the study of communication campaigns of water and electrical energy in rationing situations by using concepts of social dilemmas and risk communication. In order to achieve these results, we have reviewed the literature of these subjects, and we have proposed a model of content thematic analysis to identify values and norms of these two concepts on social campaigns of two Brazilian cases.