This document outlines the SAMRISK II project which examines how digitalization is changing risk communication. The project focuses on communication during crises like terrorism, natural disasters, and cyberattacks. It aims to understand how digital media is reshaping risk understanding and management by exploring how different actors communicate risk online and how this impacts traditional risk communication. The work will be done through three work packages analyzing risk communication environments, specific risk communication events, and the formulation and dissemination of policy.

1. Communicating risk in the digital age
j. peter burgess

2. SAMRISK II
Thematic areas:
- Media and communication
- Exchange of information between authorities
Crisis events
Terrorism, natural disasters and cyber-attacks
Actors
Authorities, news media and social media

3. Partners
University of Oslo
NTNU
Engine Room
University of Montreal
University of Westminster
Free University Brussels

4. Research questions
How does the digitalisation of communication reconfigure the
way we understand, communicate and act upon risk?
RQ1: Who are the actors that communicate risk, and what are
their roles and motives?
RQ2: How do new means and media for communicating risk
impact traditional and official understandings of what risk is
and how it should be communicated?
RQ3: How does the digitalisation of risk communication
impact the way risk management can and should be carried
out?

5. Workpackages
WP1: Risk communication environments
Public authorities, news media, social media
WP2: Risk communication events
- Natural disasters: (i) L’Aquila earthquake (2009), (ii) Eyjafjallajökull
eruption (2010), and (iii) Vesleofsen flood (1995).
- Terrorism: (i) Oslo and Utøya (2011), (ii) Boston 2013
- Cyber-attacks: (i) Estonia (2007) and (ii) major newspapers in the U.S.
(2012-13).
WP3: Policy formulation and dissemination.

6. jpeterburgess@prio.org