By Gerard Braud Rule number one during a crisis communications drill is to never have anyone accidentally think a real crisis is happening, when it is not. Hence, in all written communications and on every phone conversation and radio conversation, you must generously use the phrase, “This is a Drill.” For phone calls, the first […]
By Gerard Braud Would you rather screw up in public or screw up in private? That’s really what a crisis communications drill is all about. On a clear sunny day you have the ability to practice for how you will respond and behave on your darkest day. A crisis communications drill is designed to allow […]
By Gerard Braud Within the office here, I ranted at the media relentlessly about the horrible live coverage of the tragic events unfolding at the Washington Navy Yard. Only my assistant Shannon had to hear my rants. Fortunately, comedian Jon Stewart has the resource and video tape evidence to call out the media for the […]
As a PRSA member, here are some additional resources and links to supplement our program on social media, crisis communications, and secrets to effective communications when “it” hits the fan. 1) A copy of my First Critical Statement can be downloaded with this link. To download it for free, enter the coupon code CRISISCOMPLAN An […]
By Gerard Braud, CSP, Fellow IEC There is so much to hate about social media. Yet there are so many new avenues of communications available to you during a crisis, that it becomes hard to hate social media. On the other hand, during a crisis social media can blow up with excessive criticism and hate. […]
By Gerard Braud A clear sunny day is the best time to deal with your crisis. Your darkest day is the worst time to deal with a crisis. Let me explain… A Crisis Communications Drill can simulate realistic emotions and pressures in a controlled environment, where you can mess up in private, rather than messing […]
By Gerard Braud The pretty stuff always gets more attention than the ugly stuff. Preparing for media interviews and crisis communications is not as sexy as a newsletter or brochure. But when “it” hits the fan, will your customers, employees, and the media be remembering your great graphics? Or will they form their opinion of […]
Today marks two years since Hurricane Isaac and ten years since Hurricane Katrina. In that short time between these two hurricanes, media relations and crisis communications has been affected by social media and technology. Are you ready to effectively communicate in your next big natural disaster, be it a tornado, snow storm, forest fire or […]
We interrupt this blog with Breaking News. A school shooting at McNair Elementary School in DeKalb County, Georgia is sadly duplicating the same crisis communication failures that we began to outline in this morning’s article and the serious written and awaiting posts in the coming days. Our goal is not to belittle this school or […]
By Gerard Braud Information drives the world. It drives opinion, it causes misconceptions, and it causes confusion. Information — good and bad — is at our fingertips 24/7 though mobile devices and the Internet. Yet in crisis after crisis, official communications is slow. Slow communications often leads to additional deaths and injuries. In any sudden […]