Do we stand on common ground? A threat appraisal model for terror alerts issued by the Department of Homeland Security

• Main Authors: PANG, Augustine, YAN, Jin, CAMERON, Glen T.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2006
• Subjects: Business and Corporate Communications; Defense and Security Studies; Organizational Behavior and Theory; Organizational Communication; Social Influence and Political Communication
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/6041; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/lkcsb_research/article/7040/viewcontent/Do_we_stand_on_common_ground_sv.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

The fabric and faces of threat, and the expediency and efficiency in the communication of threat, are examined with a threat appraisal model. This model is empirically tested on an ongoing communication challenge, the issuance of terror alerts by the United States' Department of Homeland Security (DHS), focusing on how threat is appraised by both the conservative and liberal audiences. Findings showed a shared view by the DHS and conservative audiences on the levels and nature of threats; liberal audiences thought otherwise. Though there appeared to be a consensus between the conservative and liberal audiences on the efficacy of threat communication, more internal consistency within DHS is needed to optimise its effectiveness.