Why are agencies so bad at handling their own reputations in a crisis?
Despite being on the communications business many agencies aren’t prepared when it comes to protecting their own reputation argues Samantha Tannous.
It’s alarming to discover that, until they are elbow-deep in a controversy, some of our biggest and most respected agencies have never considered the need to protect their reputations in advance.
Not only that, they struggle to identify an “issue” before it becomes a crisis.
At the Mumbrella SAGE event last week, a panel discussion on agency reputations revealed that, despite being in the “communication” business, agencies big and small are leaving themselves exposed to wholesale reputation wreckage by not having a prepared issues and crisis management plan.
The ineptitude and complacency of some of these agencies is actually frightening. No wonder the Industry is in turmoil.
“Alongside building strong and trusting relationships with journalists – which are incredibly valuable if you do find yourself staring down a crisis ”
Hmmmm. Trusting? What are we saying here?
In the end , you can’t defend the indefensible – all the spin in the world isn’t gonna save you when you flaunt your transgreeion in meddia release photograph.