Crisis comms during COVID-19 is hard; don’t do it alone
Crisis communications is difficult all the time, but especially during a pandemic. Isentia’s Patricia Kavanagh explains why PR and communications departments need to be at the top of their game, but also seeking help from the right places.
Managing crisis communications is arguably the most challenging mandate for a PR and communications department. They are tasked with coordinating internal and external stakeholders’ responses, as well as planning the crisis communications strategy and effectively tracking organisational reputation. It’s no easy feat. Especially not when all of that has to happen in the context of a global pandemic like COVID-19.
The 24-hour news cycle adds another layer of complexity to crises as news travels faster than ever before. A crisis can turn into a reputation train wreck in a matter of hours, making the task even harder for comms departments.
Actually, when you see some of the stuff that Alan Jones and Co. are spouting and what Donald Trump disgorges from his slobberhole, I’m amazed there hasn’t been a decision to simply NOT broadcast their comments in the interests of basic health.
Great ideas, thanks. I think having a really obvious list of contact numbers is also super useful. I was trying to find the number this morning, as my 7 year old son is coughing and ill, for virus advise. I wanted to know at what stage do you go in and get tested. I actually struggled to find it but did eventually.
It could have been much more obvious.
When I got through I was only asked two questions, have you been abroad recently or have you been in contact with a confirmed case, neither of which we had. When I said no, no further questions were asked. Mmm, not good I thought.
Back to Pats article, I agree that calm is critical but couldn’t help looking at the picos how calm everyone was on Bondi Beach and owner what the consequences of that will be. New territory for all.