Thoughts on the future of our field
There’s no doubt about it – the pace of crisis management is growing ever faster. The “as-it-happens” nature of reporting and related decline in journalistic ethics. The ease and sheer speed of self-publishing via platforms like YouTube. Even interest in the crisis management process itself crossing over to TV and movies. All of these factors mean we have less time than ever to figure out what happened, prepare communications, and actually find a solution before someone else (who probably doesn’t have your best interest in mind) decides to tell your story themselves.
There’s no sign of slowing, and we firmly believe more widespread coverage and exposure of crisis situations is bound to to come. After all, it only takes a smartphone, some Google skills, and a serious commitment to make certain whatever you want out there DOES land in front of your target audience in one way or another.
We don’t expect a sudden, thunderous shift, but the steady, sure movement of technology, and society’s understandable thirst to see anything perceived as wrongdoing aired out, means it’s inevitable.
Erik Bernstein
www.bernsteincrisismanagement.com