Yan Jin named Kitty O. Locker Outstanding Researcher Award Recipient

Yan Jin, assistant department head of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations, has been named the recipient of the Kitty O. Locker Outstanding Researcher Award, presented at the annual international Association for Business Communication (ABC) conference October 25, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan.

Jin is also associate director of the Center for Health & Risk Communication, Athletic Association Professor and professor of public relations at Grady College.

“As a public relations scholar, I am honored to receive this international research award in business communication,” said Jin. “It is a rewarding experience to contribute to such a richly interdisciplinary field and the collective commitment to advancing business communication research, education and practice.”

The award, sponsored by McGraw-Hill Education, honors and promotes excellence in business communication research.

“Dr. Jin is richly deserving of this international research award,” said Bryan Reber, department head of Advertising and Public Relations. “She is a leader in the field of public relations research generally and of crisis communication research specifically.  I feel fortunate to have her as a colleague and our students are fortunate to have her as a teacher, mentor and role model.”

Jin’s work serves as a framework for crisis and risk communication in a rapidly evolving media landscape and amidst emotionally charged conflict situations, ranging from organizational crises to disasters and public health emergencies. Jin’s research program in crisis communication, conflict management, and health risk communication contribute to the advancement of strategic communication theory and provide insights for public relations practice.

Jin has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and over 20 book chapters.  She is the co-editor of the scholarly book Social Media and Crisis Communication. She has presented over 100 refereed papers at leading domestic and international conferences. Jin was named a Top 2 “Most Productive Scholar” in crisis communication research, according to a 2014 refereed article in International Journal of Strategic Communication. She was recently named a Top 27 “Most Cited Public Relations Author” according to a 2019 refereed article in Journal of Public Relations Research.

Jin teaches PR Research, PR Administration, PR Campaigns, AdPR Health, Crisis Communication and Mass Communication Theory. Her PR Campaigns class has collaborated with The Home Depot and eBay, while her AdPR Health class has worked on strategic health communication projects with Amgen and Publicis Health. She also served as faculty advisor for Grady PRSSA Chapter’s Bateman Team from 2016-2018.