Crisis Management

We expected good things from 2021. Instead, it delivered large doses of frustrating virus protocols, political turmoil, mistrust, disinformation and reputation gaffes. Classic PR blunders generated headlines when leaders failed to learn from history. Here are a few cautionary tales as we look to 2022.

Communications continues to be an essential function, particularly as companies, organizations and individuals continue to wade through pandemic challenges. The PRNEWS editorial team highlights some innovations and predictions we predict will be important for 2022. 

The holidays arrived early for crisis communication fans. There was no shortage of stories to peruse. All featured ghosts of crises past, whose protagonists we’ve covered in Crisis Insider.

It’s a tradition for Solomon McCown & Cence to share its video of the year’s top PR crises with us. This year’s video offers plenty of lessons.

Amazon has responded to a deadly warehouse collapse that killed at least six employees with several rote “thoughts and prayers” responses from spokespeople. Add a too-little-too-late comment from executive chairman Jeff Bezos, and any company would find itself in a communications crisis with long-term consequences.

There are no great ways to deliver a termination message. Still, firing 900 employees via Zoom without emotion, and then berating them online, is awful.

Alec Baldwin should have accepted some responsibility during his first interview since the fatal shooting. Instead, he botched an excellent moment.

What’s the best way to walk back a statement that, with time, becomes a misstatement? There are a number of options:

With experience in crisis, PR professionals may have to utilize their own tactics when it comes to diffusing an all-out brawl at a Thanksgiving family gathering. 

Crisis pros can learn from firefighters. While firefighters’ reverence for training is well known, it’s not automatic. They, too, battle complacency.