Crisis Management for Tomorrow

Erik Bernstein crisis communications, crisis management, crisis preparation, Crisis Prevention, crisis public relations, Crisis Response, Erik Bernstein, Jeff Chatterton, Jonathan Bernstein, PR, public relations Leave a Comment

The incident is over, but the crisis has just begun Most organizations understand the need to have crisis management plans to cope with immediate issues like fires, machinery failures or violence in the workplace. However, crises aren’t over just because the incident’s drawn to a close. In fact, they’re only …

States Flunk Public Health Crisis Evaluation

Erik Bernstein crisis management, crisis preparation, Crisis Prevention, Crisis Response, disaster management, Erik Bernstein, health crisis, Jonathan Bernstein Leave a Comment

Study reveals many states not prepared for public health crisis management If the health scares and natural disasters of recent years have shown us anything, it’s that state governments are expected, and needed, to lend a hand in getting us through crises with minimal damage. In order to evaluate the …

Crisis Prevention Plans Make a Difference

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Stop trouble the smart way – by not letting it start in the first place There’s a reason we’re quite fond of the saying, “the best form of crisis management is crisis prevention.” Sure, the big publicity comes from swooping in to salvage a disaster in progress, but few realize …

IBM, Bribery and Crisis Management

Erik Bernstein crisis management, Crisis Prevention, crisis public relations, Crisis Response, Erik Bernstein, Jonathan Bernstein, PR, public relations, reputation management Leave a Comment

If you’re caught, pay the price, or risk your reputation It’s well known that many countries around the world use and accept bribery so openly that it’s all but an official part of the business culture, but that doesn’t make the consequences any less damaging when an organization gets caught …

Watch What You Say…

Erik Bernstein crisis management, Crisis Prevention, crisis public relations, Erik Bernstein, Jonathan Bernstein, media training, PR, public relations, reputation management Leave a Comment

Guard what you say around reporters, it’s just good crisis management There hasn’t been much news from the Mars rover in a while, so when the chief scientist for the project proclaimed that the latest discovery picked up through Curiosity’s Sample Analysis at Mars instrument, essentially an on-board chemistry lab, …

Cybersecurity & Crisis Management in 2013

Erik Bernstein crisis management, crisis preparation, Crisis Prevention, Cyberheist, cybersecurity, Erik Bernstein, IT, Jonathan Bernstein, online crisis management, online reputation management, reputation management Leave a Comment

New threats hold potential to create crisis management woes As computers and mobile devices continue to become deeper entwined with all aspects of our daily lives, the potential dangers presented by cybersecurity breaches become exponentially more worrisome. Cyberheist News recently published its “13 Predictions for 2013,” and below we have …

Sexism and Crisis Management

Erik Bernstein crisis communications, crisis management, Crisis Prevention, crisis public relations, Crisis Response, Erik Bernstein, Jonathan Bernstein, online reputation management, PR, public relations, reputation management, social media, Tony Jaques Leave a Comment

Avoid sexism in messaging, or find yourself knee-deep in crisis management With the U.S. women’s rights movement approaching 165 years in action, one would expect organizations to assiduously avoid sexist comments in their communications.  Of course, if every organization did the right thing, then what fun would we have writing …

Whole Foods Talks Sewer Sludge

Erik Bernstein crisis communications, crisis management, Crisis Prevention, crisis public relations, Crisis Response, Erik Bernstein, Jonathan Bernstein, online reputation management, PR, public relations, reputation management

Crisis communication from the health-centric grocery chain in response to biosolids controversy We know more about the food on grocery shelves today than ever before because instead of buying whatever produce or meat is in front of them, consumers are asking questions and demanding answers. The most recent stomach-turning fact …

Kentucky Fried Crisis

Erik Bernstein crisis management, Crisis Prevention, Erik Bernstein, Jonathan Bernstein, KFC, online reputation management, PR, public relations, reputation management Leave a Comment

Poorly chosen spokesmen create crisis management scenario Every time an organization chooses a celebrity spokesperson it runs a risk of reputation damage due to that person’s words or actions. A formerly-golden celeb can become a detriment to your reputation overnight (think Lance Armstrong), but typically thorough research will eliminate candidates …

Mass Shootings – Think Prevention as well as Response

Erik Bernstein crisis management, crisis preparation, Crisis Prevention, disaster management, disaster preparedness, disaster response, Erik Bernstein, Jonathan Bernstein, school violence, workplace violence Leave a Comment

Editor’s note: The following guest post from crisis management expert Rick Amme was written several months before Newtown. In his own words, “Unpleasant as this is, it is something you have to think about in a position of leadership: prevention, not just response, when it comes to shootings in the …

CDC’s Crisis Management for Flu Season

Erik Bernstein crisis communications, crisis management, Crisis Prevention, Crisis Response, Erik Bernstein, online crisis management, online reputation management, public relations, social media Leave a Comment

Comprehensive online crisis communication from the Center Most of us pay little heed to flu season, accepting that there will be a bump in absences from work or school and maybe hoping to boost our own resistance with some over the counter vitamins. However, influenza is more dangerous than most …

Crisis at St. Louis U

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Leaked letter reignites reputation management crisis St. Louis University is facing a serious crisis, and to say that it’s not weathering the storm well would be an understatement. Early this fall SLU’s Faculty Senate and Student Government Association took a vote of “no confidence” against University President Lawrence Biondi, citing …

Good Crisis Management Means Getting Your Hands Dirty

Erik Bernstein crisis communications, crisis leadership, crisis management, crisis preparation, Crisis Prevention, crisis public relations, Crisis Response, Erik Bernstein, Jonathan Bernstein, public relations, reputation management, social media Leave a Comment

[Jonathan Bernstein here to say that I’m proud to introduce an original thought piece by my son, “chip off the old crisis manager” Erik Bernstein.] Keep leadership involved for crisis management success Organizations frequently bring in outside crisis management professionals in time of trouble, but just because you’ve hired someone …

Online News and Reputation Management

Erik Bernstein crisis management, Crisis Prevention, crisis public relations, Erik Bernstein, ethics, Google, Jonathan Bernstein, Journalism, online reputation management, PR, public relations Leave a Comment

Hard evidence for the importance of fact checking Late last month a PRWeb press release went out stating that Google had acquired Rhode Island-based ICOA Wireless for some $400 million. It’s not unusual for the big G to pick up a smaller company, so what’s the problem? Well, how about …

Generic Lipitor Recall Crisis

Erik Bernstein crisis communications, crisis management, Crisis Prevention, crisis public relations, Crisis Response, Erik Bernstein, FDA, Jonathan Bernstein, recall, reputation management 1 Comment

Evidence of a lack of crisis management concern? Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. is recalling more than 40 lots of atorvastatin pills — the generic version of the popular statin Lipitor — over possible glass contamination. Statins, or lipid-lowering drugs, are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States. The …