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Navigating the Economic Crisis
December 2008 | Volume 6 Issue 12
In this issue of CW Bulletin, IABC’s top communication experts offer sage advice on navigating the global economic crisis. Articles include tips for understanding your role as a communicator, what skills are most useful, how to prioritize your efforts to best serve your organization, and how to provide indispensible communication during this difficult time.
Natasha Nicholson
Executive Editor
Amanda Aiello
Associate Editor
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Features
ECONOMIC ESSENTIALS
by Les Potter, ABC, IABC Fellow
Communication is a critical strategic management tool during these bleak economic times. Communicators can demonstrate their value by enabling credible and timely two-way communication. But they must prove their worth with every strategic and tactical action they take, or they, too, may be out of a job.
COMMUNICATION FUNDAMENTALS
by Sheri Rosen, ABC, IABC Fellow
Your company may be shuttering up due to the global economic downturn. Or maybe your organization has remained largely unaffected. Most likely, the majority of us are at some point in between, and now is when the effective employee communication foundation we’ve laid makes all the difference.
THE COMMUNICATOR’S ROLE
by Paul M. Sanchez, ABC, APR
In recent weeks, the breadth and depth of the financial crisis has been etched into the consciousness of those of us who work in business and observe world business affairs. What should be the role of communication and the professional communicator in the midst of the crisis? Should communication be viewed as a mere information distribution process, or should it be regarded as a critical function that plays center stage in addressing the daunting challenges of reestablishing trust, building understanding and fostering cooperation?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
by Wilma Mathews, ABC, IABC Fellow
Chaos theory says that if a butterfly in Australia flaps its wings, the tiny changes that this action creates in the atmosphere could ultimately create a tsunami that would hit the West Coast of the U.S.
As communicators, you are currently faced with a tsunami of a different kind: the task of explaining and interpreting how global financial and economic upheaval (with origins in one country) affects your employees, donors, volunteers, investors, taxpayers and customers.
CRISIS COMMUNICATION
by Caroline Sapriel
As the year draws to a close, we cannot help feeling a sense of uncertainty about what lies ahead. Turbulent times, uncertain times, crisis, whatever we choose to name it, the current economic situation is here to stay for a while and calls for focus and steadiness. It is time to articulate a vision for the aftermath of the storm, no matter how long or how damaging it might be.
Columns
Event Photography Essentials:
Candid photos that will make everyone smile
by Suzanne Salvo
Many people think of event photography as the easiest kind of photo work. After all there is no special set-up or preplanning to worry about, right? Events mean taking candid shots—in which the subjects are not posed and have not had the opportunity to prepare. Professional photographers know a candid shot taken at an event is one of the most difficult to make pleasing.
Indian Media and the Mumbai Attacks: Irresponsible journalism?
by Rajiv Arvind
The scars of the terrorist attacks of 26 November will remain in the minds of the people of Mumbai, and of all Indians, for a long time to come. Mumbai has been a target of a number of attacks in the past few years, exposing the city’s vulnerability to antisocial elements.
Putting aside a discussion of security failures, administrative red tape and the outcry of citizens against politicians for another day, I will stick to analyzing the media coverage that was viewed by millions of people across the globe.
- “PepsiCo Total Rewards Online,” PepsiCo HR Communications and Aon Consulting
- “TELUS 2006 Annual Report,” TELUS Corp.
- “Idearc Media 2008 Enrollment Campaign,” PartnerComm/Idearc Media
Communication in the News
Related Resources provides additional articles and resources for understanding this month’s topic of navigating the economic crisis. You can also find some of these links alongside each corresponding feature article for quick reference. Links include:
- “Communication Is Valuable When Economy Slows Down,” by Amy Johnson
- “Ten Ways to Reject the Recession and Create a Thriving Business,” by Stephanie Chandler
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