A multi-actor collaborative governance pattern of crisis communication: Computational grounded analysis based on BERTopic

Digital technologies and multistakeholder interactions are transforming corporate crisis communication into a dynamic, co-constructed process. This study analyzes 42 recent crisis events using the BERTopic model and computational grounded theory. Findings reveal a relationship network centered on public-corporate interactions, with multiple actors collaboratively engaged. Crisis communication extends beyond one-way information delivery, evolving into a continuous process of meaning co-construction shaped by both human and nonhuman actors. The study proposes the “dialogue cycle” as a reflexive governance mechanism, highlighting the pivotal roles of emotion and norms within the Chinese sociocultural context. It further develops the concept of “mediatized governance,” illustrating how corporations can reshape dialogic power relations and build collaborative governance ecologies under conditions of uncertainty. These insights advance the theoretical development of crisis communication and provide practical strategies for managing crises across sociocultural contexts.