An investigation of employee publications and their use as a source of organizational communication at DuPont

Abstract

Employee publications are used extensively as a communication channel in organizations of every kind. This study explored the purpose of employee publication as perceived by editors and employees, what content editors deem important to include, what articles are actually printed, the "typical" employee publication in the research company, and how effective the publications are.

The main purposes of employee publications in the research organization as perceived by editors and employees were to keep employees informed" and to recognize employees' achievements. The types of articles which editors prescribed for inclusion in the publications generally reflected these purposes. In addition, the types of articles actually printed in the publications reflected both the perceived purposes and the editors' prescriptions.

The "typical" employee publication in the organization was produced primarily for employees and retired employees with articles written primarily by editors with varied journalistic training.

The use of employee publications in this company was found to be effective because they have a high readership level, the editors are achieving their goals in sending messages, employees are receiving the majority of messages editors are sending and employees perceive the publication to be effective.