Strategic Communication and Corporate Reputation Management: An Evaluation of Select Blue-Chip Firms in Rivers State, Nigeria

This study examined the strategic communication approaches adopted by select blue-chip firms in Rivers State, Nigeria, and their effectiveness in managing corporate reputation. Anchored on the Excellence Theory and the Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT), the study explored how TotalEnergies and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) utilise corporate social responsibility (CSR), stakeholder engagement, crisis communication, and digital media to strengthen stakeholder trust and enhance reputational capital. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were collected from 360 respondents drawn from both organisations using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size determination table. The instrument, a structured questionnaire, was validated by experts and achieved a reliability coefficient above 0.80 using Cronbach’s Alpha. Data were analysed using frequencies, weighted means, and percentages. Findings revealed that CSR and stakeholder engagement significantly enhance organisational credibility and public trust, while crisis communication practices were often constrained by bureaucratic delay and limited digital responsiveness. The study confirms that an integrated communication approach improves transparency, legitimacy, and long-term corporate sustainability. Theoretically, it extends the Excellence Theory and SCCT within an African context, emphasising the influence of socio-political and infrastructural factors on communication effectiveness. The study recommends a proactive communication framework combining CSR, stakeholder inclusion, and transparent digital interaction to sustain corporate reputation in complex business environments.