Date Approved
2015
Degree Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department or School
Communication, Media and Theatre Arts
Committee Member
Nick Romerhausen
Committee Member
Doris Fields
Committee Member
Dennis Patrick
Abstract
Released on July 19, 2013, the documentary Blackfish highlighted the mistreatment of dangerous sea-life and the lack of employee training at the aquatic zoological theme park SeaWorld. Considering the immense reputational damage suffered by SeaWorld, this study uses qualitative content analysis to examine SeaWorld’s Twitter (twitter.com) response to the Blackfish crisis. An inductive method of coding highlights overall themes present in SeaWorld’s tweets while the deductive method of coding utilizes Benoit’s (1997) image repair theory to determine how this tourism organization utilizes Twitter as a medium of image restoration. The results prompt suggestions for clarifying image repair theory as well as the use of social media in crisis response.
Recommended Citation
Marek, Nicholas E., "Tourism in crisis: A qualitative content analysis of SeaWorld's Twitter response to Blackfish" (2015). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 852.
https://commons.emich.edu/theses/852