Strategic Communication Resources

This page brings together resources and information to support the creation, development, and implementation of strategic communications efforts for government agencies, organizations, and teams.


 I. Defining Strategic Communication

When endeavoring to understand a new topic, like strategic communication, I do believe it is best to start with defining the terms. This helps everyone get on the same page (literally and figuratively), but also avoids potential confusion down the road. 

Hallahan and his colleagues (2007) have defined strategic communication in a unique way, since it combined aspects of both theoretical communication and practical ones as well: “Strategic communication is about informational, persuasive, discursive, as well as relational communication when used in a context of the achievement of an organization’s mission” (p. 17).

Strategic is about a high-level, very wide-ranging understanding of the environment, context, mission, and resources of an organization. It is about long-range, big-picture types of decisions. However, it cannot be divorced from the day-to-day interaction and relationships—both internal and external—that an organization relies upon. Strategic also implies a unity and cohesion when looking at the types of communication activities an organization undertakes. For example, media relations and marketing need to be “singing from the same sheet of music,” so as not to undermine the whole organization’s message and brand identity.

Communication is about clarity and consistency so that audiences (publics) can get a sense—often in a split-second—of who an organization is and what it stands for.  Being strategic goes beyond mere campaign planning, but encompasses the entirety of the organization, management, and operations.

Hallahan, K., Holtzhausen, D., Van Ruler, B., Vercic, D., & Sriramesh, K. (2007). Defining strategic communication. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 1(1), 3-35.


 II. Select Open Source Academic Journals

Journal of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research (jicrcr.com)

The Journal of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research (JICRCR) is the first scholarly journal dedicated to human and mediated communication issues associated with crises, risks, and emergencies around the world. The journal is supported by an international editorial board comprised of top crisis and risk communication scholars. JICRCR is a biannual peer-reviewed, open access publication, which means that all content is freely available without charge to the user or institution.

Public Relations Journal | Institute for Public Relations (instituteforpr.org)

Public Relations Journal is a free, web-based, open-access, quarterly academic journal presented by the Institute for Public Relations and the Public Relations Society of America dedicated to offering the latest public relations and communication-based research to connect academia and the practice.

International Journal of Communication (ijoc.org)

The International Journal of Communication is an online, open access, multi-media, academic journal that focuses on the intersections of communication scholarship, journalism, media research, and application. To advance this goal, we edit and publish prominent scholarly publications that are both innovative and influential, and that chart new courses in their respective fields of study. Funding for the journal has been made possible through the generous commitment of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. 

Case Studies in Strategic Communication | an online, peer-reviewed, open access journal (uscannenberg.org) (2012-2018)

Case Studies in Strategic Communication (CSSC) is dedicated to the study of strategic communication through the case study form. Case studies illustrate the strategies, tactics, and execution of communication campaigns through in-depth coverage of a single situation. CSSC is a peer-reviewed online publication housed at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism. The publication is on hiatus and focused largely on business case studies, but there are articles that are of interest to the government, law enforcement, and non-profit organizations. 

The Hazelwood Coal Mine Fire: Lessons from Crisis Miscommunication and Misunderstanding (link)

Lucasville: What a 20-Year-Old Prison Riot Can Teach Us Today About Crisis Communication (link)

Journal of Communication and Public Relations (lspr.edu)

The Journal of Communication and Public Relations (JCPR) is an international, peer-reviewed journal for conceptual and research on communication studies and public relations from the LSPR Institute of Communication and Business in Indonesia. The articles focus on Organizational Communication, Reputation Management, Government Public Relations, Media Relations and other related topics. JCPR is published twice a year, in January and July.


Public Relations Review | Journal | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier (note that only some articles are open source)

The Public Relations Review is the oldest journal devoted to articles that examine public relations in depth, and commentaries by specialists in the field. Most of the articles are based on empirical research undertaken by professionals and academics in the field. In addition to research articles and commentaries, The Review publishes invited research in brief, and book reviews in the fields of public relations, mass communications, organizational communications, public opinion formations, social science research and evaluation, marketing, management and public policy formation.


III. Select Open Source Communications Textbooks

Communication for Business Success - Open Textbook Library (umn.edu)

Management Communication - Open Textbook Library (umn.edu)

An Introduction to Organizational Communication - Table of Contents (lardbucket.org)

Writing for Strategic Communication Industries – Open Textbook (pressbooks.pub) [this is a great introductory text for new communications specialists, PIOs, and leaders who need to write press releases, media advisories, and other traditional media-related written communications regularly]

IV. Associations, Groups, and Organizations related to Strategic Communications

About Public Relations | PRSA Public Relations Society of America

Home (iabc.com) International Association of Business Communicators

International Communication Association (icahdq.org)

National Communication Association | (natcom.org)

National Information Officers Association | Representing and meeting the needs of emergency services and public safety information officers (nioa.org)

National Association of Government Communicators (nagc.com)

Public Information Officers Section | International Association of Chiefs of Police (theiacp.org)

V. Additional Resources

Harvard Kennedy School. Jon Haber (2022). Understanding Strategic Communications [slides]

World Health Organization: WHO Strategic Communications Framework for effective communications

Strategic Communication (jcs.mil)

Strategic Communications Plan Template - Strategic Communications for Nonprofit Organizations - Wiley Online Library

Commander's Handbook for Strategic Communication and Communication Strategy (dtic.mil)

A Best Practice Approach to Issues Management | Rise Up Strategies

Issues Management | Institute for Public Relations (instituteforpr.org)

VI. Law Enforcement/Emergency Management Specific Resources

Strategic Communications - Police Chief Magazine [my 2022 article on multicultural, multi-dimensional strategic communications for law enforcement agencies] Colin May, “Strategic Communications: A Multidimensional, Multicultural Perspective,” Police Chief 89, no. 4 (April 2022): 36–39.

Strategic Communication Practices: A Toolkit for Police Executives (usdoj.gov)

Key Leadership Strategies to Enhance Communication Major Cities Chiefs Association  cops-p195-pub.pdf (usdoj.gov)

2023 publication
Strategic Communications for Law Enforcement Executives

portal.cops.usdoj.gov/resourcecenter/content.ashx/cops-r1127-pub.pdf

Branding for Police Agencies
portal.cops.usdoj.gov/resourcecenter/content.ashx/cops-r1126-pub.pdf

Traditional Public Information Offices Must Evolve into Aligned, Strategic Communications Operations - Police Chief Magazine Howard Ludwig and Anthony Guglielmi, “Traditional Public Information Offices Must Evolve into Aligned, Strategic Communications Operations,” Police Chief Online, March 31, 2021.

FEMA Risk Communications, Crisis Communications and Community Engagement Summit Report

Lesson 3. Communicating in an Emergency (fema.gov)

The Use of Crisis Communication Strategies in Emergency Management (degruyter.com)



Updated October 2024 -- please provide any broken or updated links, or additional resources to include, to the author: profcmay@outlook.com 

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