Half Full: Finding the Positive in a PR Catastrophe

A crisis of any magnitude can bring a company big or small to its knees. It is therefore critical that a company knows how to address a disaster on the get-go.

But remaining calm during a public relations (PR) nightmare can be difficult even for businesses that have the best crisis management plan in place. Staying positive especially when the future offers no glimmer of hope could also be a big weight on the shoulders of management. But a PR catastrophe can be a golden opportunity for a company to demonstrate its resilience and earn the loyalty and respect of the public.

How then can a company turn a PR crisis on its head?

Acting decisively and swiftly is a huge part of maintaining optimism amid a disaster. During the most crucial period of the fiasco, the management should be on top of the situation, rolling out plans and keeping the workforce on its toes until the crisis is over. Employees will be looking to their officers for direction. Stakeholders will be expecting a thorough and logical exit strategy from leaders. And the public will anticipate transparency from those in-charge. A PR crisis, therefore, demands the requisite management skills to be on full display.

A PR crisis can also push an institution to revisit precarious policies that could endanger the company yet again. A thorough evaluation of existing practices can help the institution pinpoint the elements working against its ethos.

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Economist Paul Romer once said, “a crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” As some of the biggest brands have demonstrated, a PR nightmare can be a chance for companies to show why they are on top in their fields.

PR veteran Glenn Aronow has helped many companies and individuals limit the impact of an image crisis by providing expert counsel. Learn through this website how Mr. Aronow and his firm, Regency Communications, can guide you through a demanding and disruptive period.

Game plan: The opening moves of a successful crisis communication and management strategy

Prior planning plays a crucial role in effectively managing crises of all kinds. Crises often come without warning and can have greater implications as they run their course. A clear crisis management plan can save a business and its personnel from further reputation damage whether they come from without or from within.

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An orderly crisis communication and crisis management strategy must outline the basic steps of managing a particular situation while being flexible enough to take care of the crisis as it develops. Prior preparations in the event of crisis situations must be in place to control the damage caused by these events. While companies cannot readily prepare for all crises, a general game plan for when certain catastrophes happen can help a company

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Clear communication is a valuable aspect of crisis management. Companies should provide the press ample information on its activities to rectify the crisis while keeping its responses to the media and to its employees clear. Communication missteps are a common hazard in crisis situations, and efforts must be taken to avoid them.

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Transparency is also an important factor. Historically, companies do not make public statements until after a thorough investigation has been made. Although well-researched facts remain an important aspect of crisis communication, companies today cannot afford to keep mum and must acknowledge responsibility when due. Business leaders should stick to what they currently know about the situation at hand and avoid needless speculation.

Regency Communications, founded by Glenn Aronow, provides tailored public relations and crisis communication solutions for companies and public officials. Visit this website for more on the firm and its services.

REPOST: EU countries could hire PR firms to beat back Isis

European countries could tap public relations tools and other media platforms in taking down extremist propaganda on the internet. Such counter-terrorism measures follow directives by the European Union seeking to “enhance existing co-operation with the internet industry and to strengthen the commitment of social media platforms to reduce illegal content online.” Read the full article below on the counter-terrorism role of PR and the Internet:

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European countries could hire public relations experts to counter extremist propaganda on the internet under plans being drawn by the European Union.

The move was disclosed by the EU’s counter-terrorism co-ordinator, Gilles de Kerchove, who called for hitting-hit material to be posted online to combat the messages put out by Islamic State and its sympathisers.

He warned that their material was “very refined” and the EU needed to be “at least as convincing” in countering it.

“That means the help of advertisers, PR professionals, experts, police, justice and security forces [advising] on whom we focus, with what message, what tone and through any medium,” he told a Dutch newspaper.

A meeting of EU interior ministers in Latvia, attended by the Home Secretary Theresa May, discussed moves to block jihadist websites.

The EU home affairs commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said the bloc wants to “enhance existing co-operation with the internet industry and to strengthen the commitment of social media platforms to reduce illegal content online”.

He added that “Europe is more united than ever” after the terrorist attacks in Paris.

Latvian interior minister Rihards Kozlovskis said more work needed to be done to take down extremist content online, saying the internet “plays a significant role in radicalisation”.

Glenn Aronow is the founder of Regency Communications, a full service public relations firm highly respected for its customized, targeted approach to PR and brand marketing, crisis management, and political strategies. Click here to learn how the company can turn crisis into value and risks into opportunities through client-specific PR tools and solutions.