Strategic Management of Informational Conflicts: Public Relations Essentials

Wenqing Zhao (PhD Candidate), Xuerong Lu (PhD Alum), & Yan Jin (in press). "Strategic Management of Informational Conflicts: Public Relations Essentials." In D. D. Sellnow, R. Freihaut, Y. Xu., & Sellnow T. L. (Eds), Encyclopedia of crisis management. Edward Elgar Publishing. Abstract: To fulfill its ultimate purpose for public, business, and societal good, public relations research has been built upon grand theories such as organization-public relationships and the contingency theory of strategic conflict management; yet, given the increasingly competitive and conflicting media and issue landscape, managing information-centric conflicts via strategic approaches is essential for advancing public relations theory and practice. The frameworks of conflict resolution centered on negotiation and mediation provide insights into strategic management of complex issues and multi-stakeholder communications, particularly in handling informational conflicts across the public and private sectors, trekking forward towards navigating competition and conflict with integrity and success.