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Abstract

Treating communities as communication systems, this article applies the concept behind the International Communication Association (ICA) Communication Audit for describing communication within organizations, mapping out the turf and providing a sample of measures. Network and systems theory are merged as it is asked to what extent the communication network links people into a community social system, one of several potential goals that may be modified to fit a community analysis or attend to particular problems. Ten methods are offered as tools, from quantitative surveys, content analyses and inventories to qualitative methods employing in-depth interviews with informants and influentials, observations and examinations of critical events.

Keywords

communication audit communication patterns communicative city community media use networks urban communication

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