Caring in Crisis? Humanitarianism, the Public and NGOs

"The findings of this book hit home so hard and so true, it should be compulsory reading for any communications professional serious about promoting social justice. If you can read this and remain unconvinced the sector needs to change, you need to quit your job." (Paul Vanags, Head of Public Fundraising Oxfam GB, UK) "This volume presents cutting edge multi-method research which will contribute greatly to our understanding of strategies that can successfully motivate bystanders, NGOS, and governments to act in positive ways about humanitarian issues. This carefully-designed volume offers a careful, incisive analysis and impressively includes essays by both influential academics and advocates. A first-rate book!" (Alison Dundes Renteln, Professor of Political Science, University of Southern California, USA)

Drawing on an original UK-wide study of public responses to humanitarian issues and how NGOs communicate them, this timely book provides the first evidence-based psychosocial account of how and why people respond or not to messages about distant suffering.Drawing on an original UK-wide study of public responses to humanitarian issues and how NGOs communicate them, this timely book provides the first evidence-based psychosocial account of how and why people respond or not to messages about distant suffering. The book highlights what NGOs seek to achieve in their communications and explores how their approach and hopes match or don’t match what the public wants, thinks and feels about distant suffering