This month’s reader question asks whether it’s ethical to pitch positive stories as a way to deflect attention when you suspect a crisis is about to hit your organization.
Crisis Insider


Five Essentials Will Keep Communication on Track During a Cyberattack
August 17th, 2021 by Ted BirkhahnWhen cybercrime hits, you realize quickly it’s very different from almost any other crisis. It requires a tailored and measured approach to communicating with stakeholders. In the event of a cyberattack: Are you ready to comply with regulatory requirements? Do you have back-up channels so you can communicate with stakeholders? Do you have a back-up list of employee and stakeholder contacts? Are you ready to respond publicly without inciting threat actors to wreak more havoc on the brand?

Names and Numbers You Need to Know: August 2021
August 17th, 2021 by Seth ArensteinFor this month’s Buzz Box, we look at names and numbers you should know.

NAACP CCO, CMO Urges Authentic, Steady Progress on Racial Justice
August 17th, 2021 by Brett BruenWhile companies may feel enormous pressure to issue a major diversity announcement, tectonic shifts rarely work, according to the NAACP’s Aba Blankson. Instead, she says, acknowledge what the company has, or, more importantly, has not done on racial justice previously.

Companies Learned About Crisis the Hard Way in 2020
August 17th, 2021 by Deborah HilemanEach year, the Institute for Crisis Management (ICM) tracks crisis-related news stories, classifying them as “sudden” or “smoldering” and putting them into one of 16 categories for its annual report.

SolarWinds, Peloton Show Importance of Seeing Crisis as Long-Term Endeavor
August 17th, 2021 by Seth Arensteinjust when you thought cyber would recede from the news cycle after it dominated the June Summit between President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Russian hacking returned it to the headlines.

Dark Sites Can Help Brands Shed Light for Stakeholders During a Crisis
August 17th, 2021 by Sophie MaerowitzDoes your company have a process to shift gears quickly on its web site when a crisis hits? If not, during a grave incident or crisis your site might continue doing business as usual, loaded with upbeat content and imagery.

Where DEI, Ethics and Crisis Communication Intersect
July 20th, 2021 by Deborah HilemanSocietal improvement can be frustratingly slow. As a business leader and communication professional, I find it painful watching organizations repeatedly fail to learn from their mistakes.

Terms You Need to Know [July 2021]
July 20th, 2021 by Seth ArensteinIn this month’s Buzz Box, we explain the Tinkerbell Effect and Green Hydrogen and their impact for crisis communicators.

Former Trump PR Pro Urges CEOs to Push Unity on Social Stands
July 20th, 2021 by Brett BruenCrisis Insider contributor Brett Bruen talks with Alyssa Farah, former President Trump’s director of communication, about lessons learned from what were undoubtedly some of the most intense interactions any media relations team ever experienced. Several are relevant as companies prepare for, and respond to, today’s polarized political climate.