DETROIT - A study in Communication Currents, a publication of the National Communication Association, finds that food companies that promote discussions among employees about work goals and activities are more able to prevent food-related crises than those that don't. Research sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Center for Food Protection and Defense examines the best communication practices in the food industry. These practices provide government leaders, industry officials and risk managers with recommendations for shaping workplace communication in organizations that deal with food safety risks.

"Participatory communication is most needed during tough times, when organizations confront risks and crises," says Julie M. Novak, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication at Wayne State University and co-author of the study. "Employees engaged in participatory communication not only create organizational mindfulness, but they also improve an organization's ability to detect and manage risks that threaten personal, organizational and national health and well-being."

As fears of food related crises have escalated in the U.S., the way employees communicate is a critical function of risk assessment and management. Mindfulness at the organizational level can lead to improved risk reduction, crisis prevention and crisis mitigation.

Researchers observed practices at a Midwestern turkey slaughtering and processing facility and identified five forms of employee communication that create organizational mindfulness may help explain why this particular plant did not have a history of food contamination. To read the full article, visit http://www.communicationcurrents.com/index.asp?bid=15&issue=50&issuepage=202.

Dr. Julie M. Novak's research focuses broadly on applied communication within health contexts. Ongoing research focuses on the nature and role of democratic communication practices in organizations in high-risk conditions.

Wayne State University's Department of Communication is educating the next generation of communication professionals. Students benefit from expert faculty and state of the art resources and win top rankings in national and international competitions and tournaments.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research university offering more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.