Crisis Management

just 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.

Does 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.

One organization remains top of mind when it comes to disaster response—the Red Cross. If anything, these disasters showcase how essential communications are to a crisis.

Ken Fields, SVP and senior partner, Americas crisis lead, at FleishmanHillard, and Ben LaBolt, partner, Bully Pulpit Interactive, often ‘parachute’ into a crisis. We asked them what they like to see when they get there. In short, the answer was preparation. Companies with a crisis infrastructure, a set of plans and procedures and a well-practiced team will be several steps ahead when outside crisis pros arrive.

After a beloved staple of New York City wildlife was killed, online responses ranged from grief to outright ire at the Central Park Conservancy for not taking responsibility. Emotional tone and accountability are key in moments like these, as PR pros know.

Disney attacked popular actress Scarlett Johansson as money-hungry during a pandemic. Instead, Disney ended up hurting its reputation.

During these tense times, employee communication remains a top priority for communicators. Whether it’s discussing changes to ever-evolving COVID protocols or delivering clear, consistent communication regarding procedures for employee safety, public relations professionals need to be prepared with a lot more words than “thoughts and prayers.” 

PRNEWS Live welcomed Lindsay Swanson, Communications Director at Visit Anaheim. Swanson will discuss PR efforts surrounding tourism and reopening and how the industry has endured in light of the pandemic.

In this month’s Buzz Box, we explain the Tinkerbell Effect and Green Hydrogen and their impact for crisis communicators.

A tweet, statement or leaked email from the likes of Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and former CEOs John Schnatter (Papa John’s) John Schnatter and Travis Kalanick (Uber) could make or break a company’s reputation. Regardless of your organization’s size, preparing for leadership gaffes is an essential part of any PR pro’s job.