1. CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS
A simple formula for handling a communication crises.
By Bob Robinson Eaton County Treasurer PR Guy

2. No easy answers to complex problems.

3. Three-point communication plan.
1. You
2. Occurrence
3. The Media

4. Include your Social Media.
Treat your social media like any other media.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
Pinterest

5. 1. Explain what happened.
Be as factual as possible – no “alternative facts” please. NEVER COVERUP!
Express your willingness to cooperate.
Speak of the event as a separate event or occurrence. Stay detached. You are not the crises. The situation is the crises.

6. How to stay detached from the issue.
Bad Statement 
“I foreclosed the property because it was delinquent for three years and I am required by law to foreclose it. By policy I cannot give more than one hardship extension and other assistance wasn’t available. So I went ahead with the foreclosure and foreclosure is final!
Good Statement  Foreclosure is a tragedy. The property was foreclosed because the General Property Tax Act requires all properties three years delinquent in taxes be foreclosed and auctioned to recover back taxes. This property did not qualify for additional hardship extensions or other assistance so there was no way to avoid the court’s judgment of foreclosure on April 1.

7. 2. Explain what you’re doing about it.
Show that you are being proactive about the crises.
What’s your plan?
When will it be implemented?
Who is involved in this plan to fix the problem?

8. 3. Explain what you hope the result of your plan will be.
This is where most crises communications go wrong.
Demonstrate that the plan has been thought through to its logical conclusion and will have a positive outcome.
Even the best laid plans can go awry Adjust the plan as necessary, but keep in touch with the media as you go, sticking to your three-point plan..
Explain what happened, staying detached from the event..
Explain what you’re doing about what happened.
Explain what you expect the results of your action plan will be.