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Crisis Planning in a New Media World
July 2007| Volume 5 Issue 7
Blogs, online video and other social media sites, in addition to 24-hour news channels, have slashed the amount of time communicators have to distribute their messages in times of crisis. Articles in this issue highlight the importance of preparing your communications for both online and conventional media channels before a crisis hits. They also provide tips on how to ensure that your communication plan will help you withstand any crisis.
Natasha Nicholson
Executive Editor |
Features
CRISIS PREPAREDNESS
by Kami Watson Huyse, APR
The speed at which information is disseminated and the increasing pace at which companies must now issue a response are some of the most overlooked elements in modern crisis planning. Most crisis plans do a great job of modeling the traditional lessons learned from such crises as Johnson & Johnson's recall of poisoned Tylenol in 1982, but these days, crisis communicators need to do more.
by Jerry Doyle
In the aftermath of the Virginia Tech tragedy, university leaders—indeed all organizational leaders—are evaluating their crisis preparedness. Those leaders who actively seek to employ a comprehensive, all-hazard preparedness plan—not just one that deals with a troubled-turned-violent-person—will emerge best equipped to safeguard their students, employees and others.
CRISIS COMMUNICATION PLANS
by Gerard Braud
In the wake of the tragic Virginia Tech shootings, it is time to ask a few serious and potentially life-saving questions about crisis communication and the plans that either exist, or don't exist, where we work.
THE ROLE OF NEW MEDIA
by Chip Griffin
New media have drastically altered the way we communicate, particularly during a crisis. With the blogosphere, Web 2.0, Second Life and social media sites like Flickr, Twitter, Blogger, Facebook and MySpace, it seems that a new way to spread information crops up on a daily basis.
Since crises can originate or be perpetuated online, communicators must incorporate social media into their existing media monitoring efforts.
Columns
Interviewing: We ask some tough questions
and present some answers
by Natalie Canavor and Claire Meirowitz
Interviewing brings up some thorny issues. In this edition of "Working Words," we want to follow up on the basics covered in our last column and give you some opinions that may be helpful. To supplement our own experience, we've brought in some heavy guns—several seasoned business writers and a newspaper reporter, all of whom handle tough subjects.
The Value of Strategic Alliances: Four
reasons for partnering up
by Daria Steigman
Strategic alliances offer solo practitioners and small communication consultancies the best of both worlds. A good strategic alliance not only lets you maintain that all-important independent business identity, but it also allows you to work with and learn from smart people whose skills complement your own.
Internal Communication: Let's be clear
by Lindsay Bogaard
Internal communication isn't generally seen as a direct, short-term contributor to the bottom line, and therefore it is not considered "hot." More to the point though, people's understanding of what communication is and how it can work is extremely varied and often plain wrong. It seems that what makes internal communication "hot" is still mainly understood only in professional communication circles.
- "Eskom Western Cape DSM Rollout," Eskom
- "10,000 Sleeping Bags for Pakistan," Pristop d.o.o.
- "We Build Ships; Nothing Stands in Our Way: Northrop Grumman's Katrina Response," Northrop Grumman Corporation
Related Resources provides additional articles and resources for understanding this month's topic of crisis communication. You can also find some of these links alongside each corresponding feature article for quick reference. Links include:
- "The New World of Crisis Management," by Andrea Sachs
- "Internet Crisis Communications: What should we do?" by Patricia Swann
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This issue sponsored by:
Media measurement is a hot topic because it's the foundation for tracking word-of-mouth, managing corporate reputation and understanding what kind of coverage your brand and its competitors are getting in the press. The new white paper "Best Practices in Media Measurement" by Professor Paul Argenti of Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business, is essential reading for any PR or corporate communications professional. Download your copy, sponsored by Dow Jones, today.
Interested in sponsoring an issue of CW Bulletin? Click here for more information.
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