1. Don’t let a crisis become a disaster - working with media and communications

2. Your communications approach
Planning & strategy
Keep it simple
Don’t be too prescriptive
Identify the crisis team
Give your Press Office a full brief immediately
Identify your stakeholders
Embed responsibility for crisis-management into role profiles
Ensure people have the tools they need
Build a communications team that works across all disciplines
Leverage strong journalist relationships
Spokespeople!
5/9/2011
Business Continuity Management

3. Your communications approach
On the day
Gather the facts…
…but DO react promptly
Get all the key players together asap
Agree your approach
Agree timings for updates and how they will be cascaded…
…but be FLEXIBLE
If the crisis has a people impact, put that first
Images are important, and can help control the story
Be honest
Be consistent, although corrections are allowed!
Be sensitive
Monitor how the story is covered
Do a post-mortem
5/9/2011
Business Continuity Management

4. Your communications approach
Three things to remember
Be sure
Be straightforward
Be speedy
5/9/2011
Business Continuity Management