Putting people first - all the time
Under Pressure 20 March 2026
Putting people first - all the time
I have been watching with horror the details that are being made public through the Nottinghamshire public inquiry. For those that have missed this in the middle of the global news this is the inquiry into the actions of agencies in relation to the attacker who killed three people in Nottingham.
What has affected me the most is not the media coverage which has been a credit to the Nottingham Post, but it is the daily views of the families that have been sharing both the details and what it means to them. It is this that has given a window into the pain and grief that is being intensified by the evidence at the inquiry. It was shocking to read Dr Sanjoy Kumar, the father of Grace O’Malley-Kumar, say on X ‘If it wasn’t for the Nottingham Post there is so much we wouldn’t know. The fact is that we have found out more from this paper than information given to us by Notts Police.’
This should not happen. I spend all my time training and responding by putting those affected by an emergency, crisis or incident at the forefront of the communication. If you don’t know what that means then listen to the experiences that bereaved families explain in public inquiries. It is something that Professor Lucy Easthope considers in When the Dust Settles. (Recommended reading.)
It is devastating to see things go so badly wrong, and more than that to see those affected by emergencies being used as human shields as organisations appear over protective. Hiding behind the trauma of others can be a cynical way of avoiding the spotlight on flawed and unsatisfactory responses and decision making. Genuinely considering the trauma and impact of situations means being honest, accepting responsibility for failings and this is important from the moment an incident happens.
All crisis communication and major incident communication plans need to be centred around supporting those affected in a real way without an ulterior motive. It is a message I will continue to share wherever and whenever possible. And let us all stop and consider what we are doing and make a promise to be better.
Ethics sessions and Duty of candour training
The Ethics session that takes place in April is now full but Amanda is planning to do another free session later in the year. There are still spaces available for the Duty of Candour Readiness session on 16 April at 1pm - 2pm BST. This will consider the actions that can be taken to help your organisation be ready for when it becomes law. It will help UK public sector organisations and others who want to ensure they are putting ethics at the heart of what they do. Email office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for more information.
Strategic Awards Finalist
Amanda is delighted to be a finalist in the Strategic 26 and Most Ethics-Driven Communication Leader of the Year. She said it was a real honour to be a finalist alongside some amazing PR and communication colleagues who are making an impact through their work.
In Brief:
A new report from UN Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has developed a roadmap to resilience that includes trust as a strategic asset. They spoke to around 100 people and 60 organisations to look at harmful misinformation, disinformation and malinformation as well as hate speech and other damaging narratives. Find out more here.
The UK Government has announced a £12m investment to help the local media become sustainable. Find out more here.
In a recent blog Amanda urged organisations to ensure that they can get the basics right in responding and managing crises. Read more here.
A survey has revealed CEOs are the main group charged with leading the response to a crisis. But it also shows that they may not have received any training to support them. Find out more here.
Private messaging apps need to face regulation to avoid the spread of disinformation according to two policy experts. Read more here.
Diary Dates:
1 April - Amanda is running a webinar for the PRCA about Getting Maximum Impact from a Disappearing Budget, which is as relevant now as it has ever been. Find out more here.
10 April - Amanda is hosting the SASIG webinar looking at Security in the Intelligence Age with two experts from NCC Group giving details. Find out more here.
16 April - Amanda will be considering how organisations can start to embrace the details of the Hillsborough Law/Duty of Candour before it becomes law. Get in touch at office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk to book a place. Places are strictly limited.
16 April - Amanda is running a webinar for the PRCA on Developing Engaging Content in the Public Sector. Find out more here.