Graduation Year
2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.A.
Degree Name
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Degree Granting Department
Mass Communications
Major Professor
Artemio Ramirez, Jr., Ph.D.
Committee Member
Jameson Hayes, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Roxanne Watson, Ph.D.
Keywords
celebrity crisis communication, celebrity public relations, image repair
Abstract
Recent allegations surrounding Bill Cosby presented an opportunity to combine, test, and extend situational crisis communication theory typology and image repair theory response strategies for celebrity use. Because Cosby did not respond to the numerous allegations against him, it presented an opportunity to experiment with new and existing typologies using a real case, as opposed to analyzing past response attempts or using a hypothetical case. This study used a 2 X 4 factorial design to test veracity of claims, a proposed concept, and response strategies via survey. Even though none of the hypotheses were supported, the present study opened up a number questions for future researchers to explore and further expand crisis communication theories and typologies.
Scholar Commons Citation
Champion, Leah, "Crisis Communication and Celebrity Scandal: An Experiment on Response Strategies" (2015). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/5661
