Bound Volume Number
IX
Degree Type
Honors Capstone Project
Date of Submission
Winter 12-15-2014
Capstone Advisor
Prof. Dennis F. Kinsey
Honors Reader
Prof. Patrick T. Ryan
Capstone Major
Public Relations
Capstone College
Public Communications
Audio/Visual Component
no
Keywords
Pennsylvania State University, child sex abuse scandal
Capstone Prize Winner
no
Won Capstone Funding
no
Honors Categories
Professional
Subject Categories
Advertising and Promotion Management
Abstract
This thesis paper is an analysis of the crisis communication response to the 2011 Pennsylvania State University child sex abuse scandal. The reputation of this iconic university and its football program was changed forever by this horrific event, which involved years of administrative cover-ups of the sexual assault of children by an assistant football coach. However, despite widespread public backlash, administrative upheaval and heavy NCAA sanctions in the months after the scandal broke, Penn State has since made major strides in image improvement.
This project delves into what defines best crisis communication practices, using Penn State as a case study. While much of what the university did falls into the “what not to do” category, there is a lot to be learned from its actions. The purpose of this thesis is to look at what went right, what went wrong, and why, taking a deeper look at a large-scale public relations crisis in the context of the complex world of college athletics.
My research begins with a literature review of best practices for dealing with crises in terms of communications. Background research of the institution and the scandal itself through news coverage and various literature, including a biography on legendary PSU coach Joe Paterno, provided the foundation for a situation analysis. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the crisis situation were then laid out. Next came a communications audit of the way Penn State responded in the midst of a highly publicized scandal and an analysis of the administrative response to the situation, from firing and hiring to how the current (at the time) football team dealt with the situation. The final phase of research involved creating an evaluation of Penn State’s actions, along with recommendations for practitioners addressing college football crises in the future.
Recommended Citation
Lane, Meaghan Grace, "Penn State Football: An Analysis of Crisis Communication Best Practices and How PSU Overcame the Ultimate PR Crisis" (2014). Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All. 903.
https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/903
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