How do you handle a room full of reporters shouting questions at you? What can you do to increase the odds that the story will be reported correctly? Is “no comment” an acceptable answer to a tough question? When should you be proactive with the media? And when should you be reactive?
We all know that news travels fast. And bad news travels especially fast. The headlines of any newspaper are evidence of that reality.
Such situations could include accidents, interruptions of service, natural disasters, equipment failures, and criminal acts involving property damage, theft or injuries.
Negative news coverage – including intentionally placed misinformation – can result in serious problems that are costly, disruptive and potentially dangerous. You have to be prepared to deal with the media when problems occur.
The entire structure of media has changed, and social media such as blogs and YouTube are now functioning as main-line news outlets. With the rise of decentralized media, a bad story can get away from you faster than ever.
To help understand how to work with today’s media, we are offering workshops on the subject of crisis communication led by Irv Hamilton. The workshop content is for anyone who may have to deal with the media or the public when problems arise. The content is tailored to the needs of the sponsoring organization and conducted at a location of their choice.
During his career in PR, Irv Hamilton, the leader of our crisis management team has handled a 747 crash, a cholera epidemic, an airline strike, and many other issues. We have provided public-information services and counsel for clients ranging from the Australian Tourist Commission and the Guam Visitors Bureau to developers such as Shorenstein Realty Services and SRM Associates. Drawing on that experience, he has written articles and conducted classes and briefings on dealing with the press when an issue occurs.
Each two-hour workshop includes the preparation of a policy document that spells out procedures and policies regarding the release of information to the media. The cost is $75 per person, with a minimum of five participants.
If you are interested in having a crisis-communication workshop conducted for your organization, let Irv know and he will provide more details and answer any questions you may have.
