Research on Crisis Information Network of Crisis Communication: A Case Study of Songhua River Pollution in China

Crisis communication, as an important component of crisis management, is discussed by many scholars. However, in crisis communication process, crisis information network and its channels are little literature to discuss. This paper aims at building a conceptual crisis information network model and discussing the characteristics of two types of crisis information networks, using the survey by Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) School of Management during Songhua river pollution event in 2005. The data selected in this paper consists of the responders' crisis information channels in this crisis and the crisis information networks are based on these information channels. The result shows that there is a significant proportion for both formal crisis information network and informal crisis information network. Finally, this paper analyses the reasons and suggests that government should adopt relevant strategies in allusion to these two types of crisis information networks.