MEDIA HANDLING IN A CRISIS

Consilia Ltd

Consilia Ltd

The danger

“A lie can be half way round the world before the truth has got its boots

on.”

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Why the media loves crises

• Stories sell papers• Crises send up circulation• Whole structure of media designed to

handle crises:– fast communications links– staff training– managerial structures

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Impact of media

• The impact of media is now global• A story anywhere is a story everywhere• They control news agenda• Impact of pressure groups

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Communication in tough times

The basic rules

A situation to be avoided

“... no general should ever be: in a fight whose conduct, course and outcome he cannot control”.

- Simon Jenkins, writing about the

war in Iraq, The Sunday Times

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Why crisis communications matters

Crisis communications is about surviving problems

by managing them…

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Crises – An Overview • Nature of crises:

– Random – Shortage of accurate information– Fast moving– Key staff often not available– Uncertainty of outcome – Participants lack of experience

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How to Respond - 1

• Where do you want to be ?• Work back from there• That gives a strategy• Take the initiative • Create space to manoeuvre• Control timetable if possible

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How to respond - 2 • Take initiative• Use information effectively• Don’t be afraid of facts and detail• Don’t get caught out • Maintain close contact with crisis team• Draw on external experts earlier not

later

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Crisis Handling - Lessons

• Be instinctive• “Steer for the sound of the guns”• Keep intellectually above the battle• Don’t speculate • Don’t make promises you can’t fulfill

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Crisis Preparation

• Be a Boy Scout - “Be Prepared” • Know core Messages• Prepare and train team• Run scenario exercises

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Your objective

Continuing to manage your activities with as few constraints as possible

i.e. achieving results despite events