Making It Real: Using a Collaborative Simulation to Teach Crisis Communications

Abstract

Even seasoned public relations (PR) practitioners can find it difficult to handle communications during a crisis situation when the consequences of making poor decisions may seem overwhelming. This article shares results from using a collaborative simulation to teach college students about crisis communications in an advanced-level PR course. During this experiential-learning activity, students confront responsibilities and make decisions faced by PR professionals as they deal with a client’s crisis and plan a news conference that is attended by journalism students. During the simulation, students have many opportunities to “fail,” yet succeed at the same time. They also learn valuable lessons that stay with them years afterward.