Develop Your Crisis Communication Plan
Monday March 17, 2008
In light of the recent Eliot Spitzer scandal, I felt it was a good time to discuss the importance of a crisis communication plan. A crisis communication plan is about preparation and response to a crisis that hits an organization. I'm always surprised at how many organizations don't have a crisis communication plan in place. It's not something you want to be caught without. Give me a few minutes this week and let me show you how to begin the development of your own crisis communication plan.
Comments
It never ceases to amaze me that so many organziations don’t think they need a crisis communications plan until it’s too late. As a press and media relations consultant, my focus is a little more narrow than a typical public relations firm… I focus on hard news content and damage control. Virtually every one of my clients is vulnerable to a p.r. crisis, but only about 5 percent of them choose to put a plan in place before a crisis hits. The difference between having a plan in place and not having one is the difference between a news story that lasts a day or two and one that can last for weeks. Laura, you’re right about Spitzer, no crisis plan could have saved him. Your points on developing a plan are also spot-on. Prior to starting my consultancy, I was a broadcast news journalist for 20 years. The press is going to report the story whether a company or organization responds or not. I’m speaking from personal experience as someone who ran the story on many occasions, without comment from the organization in crisis. I tell my clients they have a choice in a crisis communicatinos situation, they can shape and frame the debate or they can let the media run it! That’s the real difference between having a crisis communications plan and not having one.
Great feedback Bob, it’s always fantastic to hear from others in the industry.