Crisis Management

Months ago, it seemed clear much of the COVID-19 story, at least in the United States, revolved around communication. It still does. The word ‘communication’ wasn’t used often when discussing battling COVID-19, but it remains… Continued

This month’s Crisis Insider dialogue considers why two entities can react similarly to PR crises and obtain vastly different results: One company exits the crisis promptly, the other continues to experience issues. Our dialoguers are Maureen Cahill, partner, Bellmont Partners, and Dan Jasper, VP, communications, Mall of America. Interestingly, Cahill was Jasper’s predecessor at Mall of America.

The remarks not only allow the public to drag Smith through the mud, but take ESPN right along with it by showing that it will continue to allow these short-sighted, inflammatory takes and attitudes. 

Although the headlines in the last year have been been laser-focused on COVID and racial equity workforce violations, the #MeToo era is far from over. Recent responses to harassment, sexual violence and misogyny at a Michigan boutique and Virginia Military Institute indicate a lack of accountability and action following instances of harassment.

How should communicators handle bad facts that they’re called on to clean up? When they’re true, own them, say veteran PR pros.

A typical summertime activity, visiting an amusement park, turned tragic at Adventureland Park in Altoona, Iowa. On July 3, an 11-year-old boy, Michael Jaramillo, died after a group tube on the Raging River ride flipped over, trapping him and his family members underneath. The park’s response could have been more sympathetic.

Whether it’s tennis associations pitted against athletes, NHL hockey teams covering up sexual abuse, the NCAA battling its member universities and athletes, European soccer bosses jousting with fans or organizers of the Tokyo Olympics seemingly ignoring athletes, doctors and the majority of Japanese citizens–the antediluvian approach of these sporting entities to stakeholder communication is inescapable.

A revival of the “Subway tuna” controversy is the cyclical crisis that few PR pros want to see on their plate. Monitoring and dark pages can help, experts say.

What a start to the week for anyone working for Toyota PR. Axios released a report late Sunday (June 27) regarding the car maker’s political donations, which were found to fund 37 donations to Republican election objectors. 

The coronavirus vaccines were supposed to bring an end to the pandemic. Yet vaccine resistance continues to claim a significant portion of the population. Former Porter Novelli president Bill Novelli says communication can work, but it must overcome politics, distrust and misinformation.