Curt Schilling Talks Cyber Bullying
It’s rarely a good idea to “strike back” at bloggers, flamers and trolls who defame and skewer others on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms. The urge to attack may be overwhelming, but we advise against anything that will make a bad situation worse by drawing further attention to the original attacks. Former Red […]
When to Use Subject Matter Experts as Spokespeople
[By Nora Jacobs] Our counsel to clients facing challenging situations requiring media interaction is to select one key spokesperson and train that person to use the messages the organization wants to convey. That’s because we’ve found having one spokesperson almost always improves the effectiveness of message delivery. In most cases, those messages focus on the […]
How Do You Think NYC Mayor DiBlasio Handled the Blizzard Warnings?
[By Bruce Hennes] I’m not necessarily a fan of NYC Mayor DiBlasio. But in the ramp-up to the blizzard set to hit New York City a few days ago, I think he was right on target. Based on the meteorological information on-hand at the time, New York City was set to get hit hard. One […]
Seven Phrases You Should Never Say on Television
In the most general terms, “risk communications” takes place before something actually happens. According to emergency management expert Dr. Jeff Rubin, “In the preparedness business, engaging the public is a necessity and a challenge. Effective risk communication includes identifying audiences and understanding how they perceive the messages we broadcast. With that in mind, with tongue […]
“It Can’t Happen Here”
[by Nora Jacobs] Over the years, we’ve spoken to countless clients about the crisis threats their organizations might face. Many willingly accept that their business might be struck by an act of God — tornados, floods and fires most often come to mind. But a surprisingly large number of clients seem to feel immune to […]
Risky Business
[by Bruce Hennes] According to Reputation Dividend, a company that helps quantify the economic value of reputation for publicly held businesses, few CEOs would argue that their corporate reputation isn’t one of their company’s most precious assets. Giving thought to the difference between ‘brand’ and ‘reputation,’ Sandra Macleod writes, “The value and importance of a […]
Which Comes First, the Operational Plan or the Communications Plan?
[by Nora Jacobs] Tornados…active shooters….explosions and fires…workplace fatalities…leaks of toxic chemicals. Given the wide range of catastrophes, accidents and attacks that threaten organizations of almost any size these days, wise management teams have taken the time to put together detailed emergency response plans. Those plans typically describe the procedures, people and resources to be deployed […]
What if Your CEO is a Poor Communicator?
[by Howard Fencl] When a crisis significantly impacts reputation or stock price, when the magnitude of crisis is significant enough to bring business to a halt – your key internal and external audiences expect to hear directly from the CEO. But what if your CEO is a poor communicator? An extreme example: Edward Burkhardt, the […]