CCTT Asia Hub

CCTT Asia Hub to Lead Crisis Communication Research

The Department of Communication Studies has partnered with the University of Georgia's Crisis Communication Think Tank (CCTT) to launch the CCTT Asia Hub, expanding the global network of this prestigious research initiative to the Asian region. The Hub was officially unveiled during the Inaugural Symposium on AI and Cyberattacks held on May 9, 2025.

Strategic Partnership Enhances Regional Research Capacity

This hub is jointly organized with Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies and creates a platform for cross-disciplinary research and strategic dialogue between academia and industry across Asia.

Professor and Dean of the School of Communication, Bu Zhong noted: "The establishment of the CCTT Asia Hub positions our region at the forefront of crisis communication research and practice. As organizations face increasingly complex challenges driven by AI and cybersecurity threats, this Hub will provide crucial insights and strategies for effective crisis management.

Professor and Head of the Department of Communication Studies, Regina Chen, discussed about the department' expertise in crisis communication research. "We bring significant strengths in public relations, advertising, and strategic communication to this initiative. With access to the School's AI Media Centre resources, we are ideally positioned to lead the CCTT Asia Hub and advance crisis communication scholarship in the AI era."

The CCTT, founded in 2018 at the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, has been expanding its global presence, with its International Hub established at the University of Amsterdam in 2023. The Asia Hub represents the latest extension of this network, focusing on the unique crisis communication challenges and opportunities in the Asian context.

Symposium Explores AI and Cybersecurity Challenges

The inaugural symposium of the CCTT Asia Hub was called "Facing AI and Cyberattacks: Navigating Challenges and Seizing Opportunities for Crisis Resilience," and brought together academic and industry experts to examine emerging approaches to crisis management in the digital age.

Professor Regina Chen presented research on utilizing "AI Agents" in issue management, demonstrating a five-step AI-driven system developed with Research Assistant Professor Anfan Chen. Their findings showed that agentic AI systems can effectively assist corporations in issues management with responses comparable to expert evaluations.

Professor Yan Jin, Director of CCTT, introduced the READINESS framework for managing "sticky crises" triggered by AI, emphasizing the importance of academia-industry collaboration in developing integrated human-AI approaches to crisis management.

The symposium also addressed cybersecurity challenges with presentations from Jason Epstein (University of Georgia) on legal risks in cybersecurity and Tim Coombs (Centre for Crisis and Risk Communications) on human factors in cyberattacks. Industry perspectives were provided by David Ko (Ruder Finn Interactive) on AI-enhanced decision intelligence tools and Alan Lee (Ernst & Young) on third-party cybersecurity risk mitigation.

This inaugural event lays the groundwork for the CCTT Asia Hub's ongoing efforts in advancing crisis communication research, knowledge exchange, and innovative solutions throughout the region.