Blueings | Thoughts on Branding, Design & Technology

By Jeanne Albrecht – Director of Public Relations

Even though this is the last post from this series, we’ll revisit this topic again in the future. This week I will continue with tips for choosing your crisis communications team:

Obviously, they need to be people who can be trusted to keep the information confidential.

One individual should be designated as the primary spokesperson to represent the company, make official statements and answer media questions throughout the crisis.

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By Jeanne Albrecht – Director of Public Relations

This week we get to review the logistics of a Crisis Communications team and its purpose. Have a great week and enjoy!

The Communication Team:

The essential tasks of the Communication Team are to:

• assess (evaluate) the crisis, in advance and/or the last minute
• notify all proper agencies, the employees, customers, media and the community
• write all necessary correspondence and media advisories
• determine the spokespersons
• determine the locations for interviews and press briefings
• respond to all inquiries from employees, customers, vendors, media, etc.

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By Jeanne Albrecht – Director of Public Relations

Last week I gave the reasons why every individual/company/organization should have a Crisis Communication Plan.  Now, here are the basic guidelines for a plan… free to our blog followers.

A Crisis Communication Plan (CCP) very simply is made of four components:

• The Communication Team
• The Message
• Advance Training
• The Plan of Action

The strategies outlined below are geared toward an economic crisis such as layoffs, but can be fine-tuned to fit any crisis–be it manmade or natural.  Even though there is usually advance notice regarding lay-offs, a company still could be thrown into a crisis mode if the media gets wind of the problem before the designated announcement day and appears at your doorstep for a statement.

Next week: the logistics of a Crisis Communications team.

By Jeanne Albrecht – Director of Public Relations

Ask company executives who have not been through a major crisis what one is, and they may answer with a list of natural or manmade disasters:  theft, layoffs, fire, accidents, lawsuits, floods, bankruptcy.

Ask executives who have lived through one and they probably will immediately answer:  negative media attention and unsubstantiated rumors.

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