More Than Words Alone: Incorporating Broadcasters' Nonverbal Communication Into the Stages of Crisis Coverage Theory—Evidence From September 11th

Abstract

This study advances the theoretical development of Graber's (2002) stages of crisis coverage by explicating the role of nonverbal communication. It begins the process of enlarging the theoretical framework to account for the effects of nonverbal cues. Results support the idea of 3 distinct stages of crisis coverage with journalists' nonverbal expressions of emotion peaking in the 2nd stage, which is where journalists attempt to make sense of an event. Theoretical developments are explicated and implications for audience effects in news coverage are discussed.