How to handle your next media crisis?
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Transcript of How to handle your next media crisis?
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.”
Consilia Ltd
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
Consilia Ltd
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
Consilia Ltd
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
Consilia Ltd
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
Consilia Ltd
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
Consilia Ltd
Your objective
Continuing to manage your activities with as few constraints as possible
i.e. achieving results despite events