Going where people go
Going where people go
Under Pressure 07 July 2023
Going where people go
Crisis communication plans are developed to make our lives easier, so that we have something to rely on when the worst happens. In most cases when we look at what we are planning to do it will be rooted in the organisation’s history and operating procedures. We will have considered our usual channels of communication and our usual audiences. But can that be enough for an effective crisis response?
This week Meta has given us Threads, an alternative to Twitter, and it has raised lots of questions about how we deliver emergency and crisis messages quickly. For many organisations pushing tweets out that will then be shared, and picked up by the media has become the backbone of the initial crisis communication response. If Twitter is no longer the place where that information can be disseminated quickly something else needs to be done.
Having just one main approach is a risky situation. If the plan says we will tweet out the initial statement or comment we are relying on a third party to facilitate the sharing of information. This does not mean that we just replace Twitter for Threads in our plans, at the moment it is growing but is not established. After all this is just 24 hours since it emerged.
The key is to have a series of communication activities that are put in place as quickly as possible when the crisis is identified. Most importantly we need to go where people are and on the channels that they trust. This should be something that is reviewed on a regular basis, not least because of changes like the emergence of Threads.
It is never enough to just do the things that are easiest for us. If we really want to be effective in managing issues, incidents and crises we have to make sure we are communicating with people in places that they go whether that is on or off line.
Leaders and tough issues
Amanda was quoted in a recent article by Business Leader considering the top tips for leaders facing tough conversations. One of the most important points raised by Amanda was putting things into context and saying why a difficult decision was being made.
Find out more in the article here.
Training Dates:
Recovery and developing a crisis communication strategy are the focus of the training sessions organised by Amanda that run until the end of the year. If you wan to know more about any of them email amanda@amandacolemancomms.co.uk
In Brief:
In the latest #10minswith chat Amanda talks to Adam Driver, the founder of Authentic Communications. Adam considers whether SEO and content marketing can do anything to support the crisis preparation, response and recovery. Watch the chat here.
The National Cyber Security Centre has updated its risk management guidance for the first time in five years. The new guidance includes three new sections, the first of which is an eight-step cyber security risk management framework to help users understand what a good approach looks like for their organisation. Read more here.
Professor of Risk and Crisis Communication Audra Diers-Lawson provides an insight into risk communication during a health crisis in a recent article on Science Norway. She gives nine recommendations for the future. Read more here.
The latest Testing Times crisis communication case study has been published. This edition looks at the situation in France using Amanda’s experience of communicating in riots during 2011. Email amanda@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for your copy.
Diary Dates:
11 July 2023 1pm - Amanda will run the latest crisis communication exercise. The session will test decision making as an incident unfolds. A great way to learn in a safe environment. Email: amanda@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for more information
11 July 2023 - Amanda will be a keynote speaker at the National Housing Quality conference discussing the challenges of managing reputation. Find out more here.
12 July 2023 11am - Amanda will be chairing the SASIG webinar Missing Possible: Defusing an in progress identity system attack. Find out more here.