Background:
In 2014 the Sheffield Half-Marathon was cancelled after the runners had lined up to start the race.
This critical incident was a response by the safety officer to the failure of a sub-contractor to supply the race with water. The cancellation received widespread attention in the social and ‘traditional’ media.
It has been widely cited as a PR disaster for the city of Sheffield, with ramifications for public trust in the city authorities (council) despite their not being directly involved in the organization and management of the race (The event was organized by Sheffield Half Marathon Ltd).
Project approach:
The project will combine an interdisciplinary set of analytical approaches and methods of data collection to examine how the event was reacted to on social media, and how it was understood and managed by council authorities.
There will also be an interactive workshop to improve our understanding of how policymakers can engage effectively with the public via social media.
