Due to the importance of word choice in political discourse, this study explored the use of the term “fake news.” Using a social network analysis, content analysis, and cluster analysis, political characteristics of online networks that formed around discussions of “fake news” were examined. This study found that “fake news” is a politicized term where conversations overshadowed logical and important discussions of the term. Findings also revealed that social media users from opposing political parties communicate in homophilous environments and use “fake news” to disparage the opposition and condemn real information disseminated by the opposition party members.

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Purpose – Through its use of a nationwide survey that assessed the most significant personal and organizational values among the general public, the purpose of this paper is to identify how individuals’ personal values serve an important role in guiding the value expectations they have for organizations. Design/methodology/approach – A research firm was hired to disseminate a survey to a stratified sample of 735 of adults in the US measures used in the study were a socially desirable human values subscale and a socially desirable organizational values subscale. Findings – The results from several regression analyses confirmed that stakeholders’ personal values predict the values they expect from organizations with which they choose to conduct business. Research limitations/implications – Organizations must recognize that values play a significant role in the legitimation process as both are represented by actions and social desirability. In the realm of corporate communication, organizations continually encounter situations in which they must establish, maintain and defend their legitimacy using strategic communication efforts. These difficult feats can only be accomplished by viewing legitimacy as a measureable construct that is ultimately shaped by acting and communicating in ways that meet the value-driven expectations of stakeholders. Originality/value – This paper fills a gap in the literature that identifies whether stakeholders personal values drive or influence the values they expect to be displayed by legitimate organizations.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the networks that form around an organizational crisis and identify the most predominant frames communicated by the traditional media and other social media users. Design/methodology/approach Through the systematic analysis of 3,000 tweets, this study utilized the social analysis method to map and measure how crisis information spreads through social media as well as a content analysis to identify the type of frames being communicated online immediately following a crisis. Findings The results of this analysis show that the media were the most active and influential sharers of information following Chipotle’s E. coli crisis. This information shaped the frame of the story, which focused on the hazard components involved in the crisis and the outrage of the organization’s publics. Consequently, stakeholders framed the situation as an issue of policy due to poor food handling procedures. Practical implications This study also reaffirms the important presence of traditional media organizations as the originators of information in a crisis. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate how Twitter can serve as a framing tool for an organization’s stakeholders. Communication managers and professionals can use the methods in this study to gauge public sentiment and obtain information that can be used to shape their consequent crisis management efforts. Originality/value Findings from this study reveal that as awareness of an issue spreads, stakeholders will quickly turn to social media to obtain and share information, as well as communicate about the issue with other social media users. This study demonstrates how the SNA method can be used to develop theory, in the realm of social media and online communication and provide guidance for professionals crafting their communication.