Take steps now to mitigate the risks of hurricane season Every year brings a number of grim reminders as to just how powerful Mother Nature can be, and according to officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this year’s hurricane season will be no different. Here are their predictions, …
Not just a movie plot, NASA has a solution in mind Ever watch one of these space-disaster movies and wonder what we would really do if an asteroid was on a collision course with Earth? Luckily for us, so do the people at NASA. Check out what they’ve got in …
Aggressive online behavior is a major no-no Last week, controversial ex-MLB slugger Jose Canseco took an oddball approach to crisis management after discovering he was under investigation in the alleged rape of a Las Vegas woman. Canseco immediately took to Twitter to discuss the situation, repeatedly sharing the full name …
Transparent blustering only results in more reputation damage Last week, we discussed the crisis management nightmare that Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has landed in after a video, which allegedly shows him using crack cocaine and insulting various constituents, was shown to members of the press. While Ford fended off questions …
Crisis management pro Jonathan Bernstein takes a low blow from Nutrisystem foods, fights back I made a grand pronouncement on Facebook, earlier this month, that I was starting the Nutrisystem program with the goal of shedding 20 pounds. My original order had been placed by phone, and for the first …
Billions lost serve as stern reminder to be prepared for crises China’s most recent bird flu outbreak is a prime example of just how costly food-related crises can be. Although the country appears to have brought the virus under control via strict crisis management protocols — including the closure of …
Don’t forget that your body needs fuel when it comes to crisis management planning for natural disasters This coming Sunday marks the start of Hurricane Preparedness Week, and considering the storms that have battered the country over the past couple of years, there shouldn’t be any doubt as to the …
Ethics count, people Pursuing shady practices may make you some extra bucks, but the cost will far outweigh the gains when you’re eventually outed. Just look at Dream Tours Florida, the high-end travel company that’s been making a mess of crisis management ever since the New York Post exposed its …
Neglecting an important aspect of crisis management creates unnecessary risk As the leader of an organization, you should expect to be talking to the media on a regular basis. Apparently, John Tortorella, coach of the NHL’s N.Y. Rangers, missed the memo on that one, because he REALLY hates press conferences, …
How did this mess ever get the green light? Late last month, PepsiCo joined the ranks of organizations that went too far with edgy marketing campaigns and were forced into crisis management as a result. The company partnered with controversial rapper and producer Tyler the Creator to produce a new …
Social media’s role should be to bring information to us quickly. Traditional media’s role should be to bring information to us accurately. That distinction came to mind recently after I witnessed the horrendously inaccurate traditional media reporting about the Boston Marathon bombing, which was often fed by an apparent desire …
[Editor’s note: This post from Paul Purcell, Bernstein Crisis Management contractor and author of Disaster Prep 101 – The Ultimate Guide to Emergency Readiness, explains how bystander businesses can lend a hand in the midst of crisis.] On April 15th, the nation witnessed the tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombing, …
Social media crisis management advice straight from the horse’s mouth After the umpteenth Twitter hack of recent memory, in which a false report of explosions in the White House going out from the official Associated Press account actually caused the stock market to dip, the big blue bird is finally …
Always consider the feelings of your audience When it comes to attempts at “edgy” marketing, it’s easy to go too far, creating a self-made crisis. Late last month, Hyundai raced into crisis management mode after an online video featuring its hydrogen fuel cell-powered Hyundai x35 literally brought many viewers to …
Hit that send button too soon? Here’s some advice… With the average person firing off dozens, or even hundreds, of emails per day, you can safely assume that someone in your organization is going to slip up eventually. Whether sending to the wrong recipients, sending too soon, or one of …
