This study assesses the communication challenges and opportunities involved in the outbreak of an unknown disease, the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) that severely threatened the United States pork industry in 2013 and 2014. Interviews with 13 individuals directly involved in developing and distributing risk and crisis messages during the outbreak identified four generalizable implications. They featured (1) the advantage of maintaining flexibility in crisis communication planning, (2)the value of audience analysis and message adaptation, (3)the importance of understanding not only what to do, but also why the recommended actions are essential, and (4) the utility of risk/crisis communication and education both prior to and during a crisis event.
19 pgs., When it comes to food, consumers are increasingly concerned with the welfare of the livestock used to produce it. To display transparency and build trust with patrons, businesses such as The Maschhoffs, a pork production company, have created online tools to answer questions about production processes. This study implemented eye tracking and survey methodologies to attain insight regarding the visual attention of website visitors. While results revealed no discernable pattern of navigation among respondents, the findings illustrated a sector of the pork industry consumers expressed interest in was the breed-to-wean section of the farm. Researchers encourage agricultural communicators to develop messaging surrounding this specific process to continue building trust with consumer audiences as well as make recommendations for utilizing eye tracking to assess visual attention to websites.