Navigating the Storm: A Case Study of Viaplay’s Crisis Communication Strategies
(2023) In Master's Thesis SKOM12 20231Department of Strategic Communication
- Abstract
- The aim of this study is to expand on the research body of crisis communication by investigating how an organization can employ crisis communication strategies in navigating a sexual assault crisis. More profoundly, the study used a case study approach with regard to the sexual assault crisis the Swedish television organization Viaplay faced in 2021 in the infamous program, Paradise Hotel. As such, the study answers the questions of how Viaplay employed crisis communication strategies to navigate the sexual assault crisis in 2021 and based on that, presents practical guiding principles that organizations experiencing a sexual assault crisis should follow to minimize reputational damage. Through a qualitative directed content analysis, the... (More)
- The aim of this study is to expand on the research body of crisis communication by investigating how an organization can employ crisis communication strategies in navigating a sexual assault crisis. More profoundly, the study used a case study approach with regard to the sexual assault crisis the Swedish television organization Viaplay faced in 2021 in the infamous program, Paradise Hotel. As such, the study answers the questions of how Viaplay employed crisis communication strategies to navigate the sexual assault crisis in 2021 and based on that, presents practical guiding principles that organizations experiencing a sexual assault crisis should follow to minimize reputational damage. Through a qualitative directed content analysis, the research identifies the employed crisis communication strategies based on the theoretical framework of situational crisis communication theory (SCCT). The findings demonstrate that Viaplay implemented strategies of denial, in terms of scapegoating, diminishing regarding minimizing attributes, and rebuilding such as apology and compensation for the victims of the assaults. The study also identifies multiple paradoxes where Viaplay's true motives were questionable and seemingly hypocritical. Lastly, it is concluded that organizations facing similar crises should follow three principles; use active communication, identify the right timing of showing solidarity, and prevent contradictions by aligning communication with stakeholders. (Less)
- Popular Abstract (Swedish)
- Syftet med denna studie är att utvidga forskningsorganet för kriskommunikation genom att undersöka hur en organisation kan använda kriskommunikationsstrategier för att navigera i en kris med sexuella övergrepp. Mer djupgående, använde studien en fallstudiemetod när det gäller den sexuella övergreppskris som den svenska tv-organisationen Viaplay mötte 2021 i det ökända programmet Paradise Hotel. Som sådan, besvarar studien frågorna om hur Viaplay använde kriskommunikationsstrategier för att navigera i den sexuella övergreppskrisen 2021 och presenterar utifrån det praktiska vägledande principer som organisationer som upplever en sexuella övergreppskris bör följa för att minimera skador. Genom en kvalitativ riktad innehållsanalys identifierar... (More)
- Syftet med denna studie är att utvidga forskningsorganet för kriskommunikation genom att undersöka hur en organisation kan använda kriskommunikationsstrategier för att navigera i en kris med sexuella övergrepp. Mer djupgående, använde studien en fallstudiemetod när det gäller den sexuella övergreppskris som den svenska tv-organisationen Viaplay mötte 2021 i det ökända programmet Paradise Hotel. Som sådan, besvarar studien frågorna om hur Viaplay använde kriskommunikationsstrategier för att navigera i den sexuella övergreppskrisen 2021 och presenterar utifrån det praktiska vägledande principer som organisationer som upplever en sexuella övergreppskris bör följa för att minimera skador. Genom en kvalitativ riktad innehållsanalys identifierar forskningen de använda kriskommunikationsstrategierna utifrån det teoretiska ramverket för situational crisis communication theory (SCCT). Resultaten visar att Viaplay implementerade strategier för förnekelse, i form av syndabock, förminskande när det gäller att minimera och återuppbyggnad såsom ursäkt och kompensation till offren för övergreppen. Studien identifierar också flera paradoxer där Viaplays sanna motiv var tvivelaktiga och till synes hycklande. Slutligen dras slutsatsen att organisationer som står inför liknande kriser bör följa tre principer; använda aktiv kommunikation, identifiera rätt tidpunkt för att visa solidaritet och förhindra motsättningar genom att anpassa kommunikationen med intressenter. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9126037
- author
- Bahtiri, Dona LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SKOM12 20231
- year
- 2023
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- crisis communication, reality TV, Viaplay, content analysis, SCCT.
- publication/series
- Master's Thesis
- language
- English
- id
- 9126037
- date added to LUP
- 2023-06-19 11:56:20
- date last changed
- 2023-06-19 11:56:20
@misc{9126037,
abstract = {{The aim of this study is to expand on the research body of crisis communication by investigating how an organization can employ crisis communication strategies in navigating a sexual assault crisis. More profoundly, the study used a case study approach with regard to the sexual assault crisis the Swedish television organization Viaplay faced in 2021 in the infamous program, Paradise Hotel. As such, the study answers the questions of how Viaplay employed crisis communication strategies to navigate the sexual assault crisis in 2021 and based on that, presents practical guiding principles that organizations experiencing a sexual assault crisis should follow to minimize reputational damage. Through a qualitative directed content analysis, the research identifies the employed crisis communication strategies based on the theoretical framework of situational crisis communication theory (SCCT). The findings demonstrate that Viaplay implemented strategies of denial, in terms of scapegoating, diminishing regarding minimizing attributes, and rebuilding such as apology and compensation for the victims of the assaults. The study also identifies multiple paradoxes where Viaplay's true motives were questionable and seemingly hypocritical. Lastly, it is concluded that organizations facing similar crises should follow three principles; use active communication, identify the right timing of showing solidarity, and prevent contradictions by aligning communication with stakeholders.}},
author = {{Bahtiri, Dona}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{Master's Thesis}},
title = {{Navigating the Storm: A Case Study of Viaplay’s Crisis Communication Strategies}},
year = {{2023}},
}