My research  focuses on the following areas:

1. Risk and crisis communications – It all started with my coverage of crises when I worked in news. Then my dissertation investigated  messages surrounding an agricultural crisis (Salmonella in jalapenos). I have maintained that area of inquiry ever since. The way an organization communicates about a crisis is fascinating to me. I have amassed a large body of work on the topic and collected that knowledge into a book: The Crisis Communications Guide for Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources.
2. Video production in agriculture – I love video of any kind. News, YouTube, Netflix, television advertising, it doesn’t matter. I started my career television; therefore, my research interest and passion remain in news and video production. I want to provide information to help agricultural communicators produce better videos.
3. Scholarship of teaching and learning – We are always looking for ways to improve our teaching, and conducting research on the topic is the best way to determine how to improve. I conducted studies with our alumni and current students to assist us in developing the Ag Comm Block and in planning agricultural communications curriculum for future semesters. Although I have not published as much in this area, it is still an area of great importance for me, and the data I have collected have been very helpful.

Coming Soon…

Irlbeck, E.G. (2023). The Crisis Communications Guide for Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources. XanEdu Publishing.

ISBN: 9781711472003 – print edition

ISBN: 9781711472010 – e-book

Key Publications:

Opat, K., Irlbeck, E.G., Cummins, R.G., Li, N., & Boren-Alpizar, A. (2022) Get the story straight: Comparing narrative and logical-scientific Communication to Capture Gen Z’s interest in science podcasts. Journal of Radio & Audio Media, DOI: 1080/19376529.2022.2145481

Irlbeck, E.G., & Moore, A. (2020). Crisis communications in a natural agricultural disaster. Journal of Applied Communications, 104(4). https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.2350

Holt-Day, J., Curren, L., & Irlbeck, E.G. (2020). USDA agricultural checkoff programs’ YouTube presence and video quality. Journal of Agricultural Education, 61(1). https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2020.01190

Gibson, C.D., Irlbeck, E.G., Meyers, C., Akers, C., & Price, P. (2019). An investigation of agricultural crisis communications via social media: A grounded theory study. Journal of Applied Communications, 103(4). https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.2279 

Calley, B., Meyers, C., Gibson, C., & Irlbeck, E.G. (2019). A comparative content analysis of news stories and press releases during the 2015 Blue Bell Ice Cream recall. Journal of Applied Communications, 103(3).  https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.2213 

Opat, K., Irlbeck, E.G., & Magness, H. (2018). Blue Bell’s Facebook Posts and Responses During the 2015 Listeria Crisis: A Case Study. Journal of Applied Communications, 102(4). https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.2232

Corder, J., & Irlbeck, E.G. (2018). Agricultural communications skills, abilities and knowledge desired by employers compared to current curriculum: A literary review. Journal of Agricultural Education, 59(4). 177-193. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2018.04177

Krause, A., Meyers, C., Irlbeck, E.G., & Chambers, T. (2016). What Side Are You On? An Examination of the Persuasive Message Factors in Proposition 37 Videos on YouTube. Journal of Applied Communications, 100(3), 68-82. https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.1231

Irlbeck, E.G., Akers, C.A., Baker, M., Burris, S.H., & Brashears, M.M. (2014). A case study and framing analysis of the 2008 Salmonella outbreak. Journal of Applied Communications. 98(2). 66-77. https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.1079

Irlbeck, E.G., Jennings, J.F., Meyers, C.A., Gibson, C.D., & Chambers, T. (2013). A case study of the risk and crisis communications used in the 2009 Salmonella outbreak in peanut products. Journal of Applied Communications, 97(4). 19-32. https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.1125

Palmer, A.L., Irlbeck, E.G., Meyers, C.A., & Chambers, L.T., (2013). A case study of the risk and crisis communications used in the 2008 Salmonella outbreak. Journal of Applied Communications, 97(1). 38-49. https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.1102

Barr, K.E., Irlbeck, E.G., & Akers, C.L. (2011) Salmonella and the media:  A comparative analysis of coverage of the 2008 Salmonella outbreak in jalapenos and the 2009 Salmonella outbreak in peanut products.  Journal of Applied Communications, 96(1). 29-41. https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.1144

Irlbeck, E.G., Akers, C.L., & Palmer, A. (2011). A nutty study: A framing analysis of the 2009 Salmonella outbreak in peanut products. Journal of Applied Communications, 95(2). 48-59. https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.1178

Irlbeck, E.G., & Akers, C.L. (2010). The summer of Salmonella in salsa:  A framing analysis of the 2008 Salmonella outbreak in tomatoes and jalapenos. Food Protection Trends, 30 (11). 16-22.

Irlbeck, E.G., Akers, C.L., & Brashears, M.M. (2009).  A content analysis of food safety measures on television’s Food Network.  Food Protection Trends, 29 (1). 16-20.