Crisis Management Consultant Talks Epstein and #MeToo Reputation Management With MarketWatch

Erik Bernstein reputation management

  As the wave of #MeToo allegations rolls on and major bad guys like Epstein grab headlines, Bernstein Crisis Management president Jonathan Bernstein shared thoughts with MarketWatch on how some of these folks have managed to continue operating in public after being busted for egregious offenses, why the same tactics …

3 Public Speaking Tips From Crisis Management Experts

Erik Bernstein crisis management

  With very few exceptions, people will tell you that speaking in public terrifies them. Even when it’s to deliver good news! Make it your job to communicate about a negative issue, and suddenly the anxiety cranks up to an 11. While there is no magic formula to remove every …

When A Sudden Event Threatens Your Company, Step Up Like Wag

Erik Bernstein crisis management

  This guest post comes to us from expert consultant, Bernstein Crisis Management team member, and founder of Jon F. Harmon Strategic Communications, Jon Harmon! When a sudden event threatens your company, step up like Wag What do you do if you’re a five-year-old company suddenly faced with an existential …

Crisis Management Case Study: Exploding Fireplace Recall

Jonathan Bernstein crisis management, public relations, recall, recall crisis management

  [Author’s Note: The general public seldom gets to see what goes on behind the scenes of a significant product recall.  It ain’t always easy!] The Crisis Home Products manufacturing (name disguised), based in the Midwest with operations throughout North America, received reports from distributor showrooms that some of the …

One more for the Non-Apology Hall of Shame

Erik Bernstein crisis communications

  [Editor’s note: This guest post comes to us from frequent contributor – and our go-to crisis expert “down under” – Tony Jaques. This particularly timely article lands just as we’re seeing a flurry of non-apologies from big names (ahem, Boeing, ahem) and explores the simple steps to take if you’d …

3 Expert Tips To Help You Through Your Media Interview Or Public Statement

Erik Bernstein crisis communications

  Having trained hundreds of clients for difficult speaking situations like media interviews or angry shareholder meetings we can tell you there’s one constant – people are scared of standing up in front of strangers and talking about bad news. It’s a bit surprising the first few times you see …

Boeing: “Sorry” Doesn’t Have To Be The Hardest Word

Erik Bernstein crisis management

  [While there’s absolutely a need to take care when dealing with issues involving major risk of litigation, sometimes the situation demands a clear, “We’re sorry”. In this guest post, reputation and crisis expert Mark Story asks why it was those words Boeing battled to avoid saying in the face …

Don’t Let Good Attorneys Make Bad News Worse

Erik Bernstein litigation-related PR

  [Editor’s note: The following guest post from Silicon Valley-based writer Leslie Kelsay leverages her previous experience directing strategic and crisis communications to help us understand the unintended consequences that come with over-lawyering a public issue.] Don’t Let Good Attorneys Make Bad News Worse By Leslie Kelsay We get it:  …

Setting A Strong Foundation For Crisis Communications

Erik Bernstein crisis communications

Create a solid foundation for communication in crisis Crisis communications plans cannot be cookie-cutter, but there are certain principles that apply to just about every situation. Get the core bits down pat, and you’ll leave yourself significantly more room to think about incident-specific actions or outside-the-box solutions to the issue at hand. …

Smart or Risky? Starbucks Instructs Employees On Crisis Comms After Former CEO Announces Presidential Bid

Erik Bernstein crisis communications

  Like it or not, when someone’s represented your company publicly for many years that association sticks around after they retire. That’s a lesson Starbucks is learning the hard way after former CEO and chairman Howard Schultz announced that he was considering a 2020 presidential run. Anticipating questions from customers …