Editorial Record: Submitted November 17, 2024. Revised May 27, 2025. Accepted February 7, 2026.
Author
Sheila B. Lalwani
Doctoral Student
University of Texas at Austin
Texas, USA
Email: sheila.lalwani@utexas.edu
ABSTRACT
This teaching brief outlines the banking data breach scandal as an instance of a border privacy and corporate ethics crisis communication case taught to undergraduates. In this assignment, students analyzed and presented the scandal to hone skills necessary for ethical and practical public relations crisis communication management and leadership. Skills emphasized in this assignment were critical thinking, memo writing, and public speaking. Four parts characterize this teaching note. Part I introduces the course within the university, the learning goals, and the key theories emphasized. Part II outlines assignment details. Part III summarizes student performance. Part IV reflects on this lesson and concludes the brief.