Ono the OstrichCRISIS MANAGER
The Internet Newsletter about Crisis Management
 Editor: Erik Bernstein
 Publisher: Jonathan Bernstein

"For Those Who Are Crisis Managers,
Whether They Want to be or Not"

ISSN:1528-3836
© 2012 Jonathan Bernstein

 

Volume XIII, Number 3

February 9, 2012   


JUST A THOUGHT 

 

The people who need the most help are those who won't ask for it.

 

                           Jonathan Bernstein   

                                


FROM THE EDITOR  

  

 

The Presidential race is really heating up, and that means candidates from both parties are thirstily seeking out embarrassing or controversial stories about one another. Most notably, the routine use of analyses by factchecking organizations is putting long-time politicos such as Newt Gingrich on the defensive.  Ditto for the use of historical information which is permanently on the Internet record; it can and will be used against them!

There may be no grander stage for reputation management than this one, and business owners would do well to mark the mistakes these polarizing figures make during the battle for office.

Speaking of grand stages, social media is quickly gaining on the market share that TV has owned since Kennedy and Nixon held the first televised debate in 1960. R
esearch such as this Digitas survey demonstrates that 38 percent of users give as much heed to political information found on social media as that in traditional media. 
 
As per our new format, below you'll find a summary of the best of our recent blog posts.  

And as always, if you like what you see, please share it with others by using the "Forward Email" link at the bottom of the ezine and tell them to subscribe!  IMPORTANT NOTE: If you just "Forward" using your own email program's "Forward" function and your recipient thinks they're being spammed, they can click on the Opt Out link and opt YOU off the list. So use the "Forward Email" link, please. 

  


BCM

 

Thank you, and read on!

 

          - Erik

 

  

BLOGS!
By Erik Bernstein

It's all about crisis management on our duo of blogs; check out the latest from the NEW Bernstein Crisis Management blog and our Crisis Management blog over at Carter McNamara's Free Management Library!

If you're a crisis manger (whether it's part of your "official" job description or not), we've got you covered.

FEMA has come a long way since Katrina, and much of that improvement can be attributed to a focus on quality communication. This Emergency Business Check-up is a perfect example.

When you know you're going to be in crisis management mode, it's important to Get Your Story Straight. Don't flip flop like a certain Massachusetts Governor, or you're bound to arouse suspicion.
Erik Bernstein
Erik Bernstein

In this guest article, Triad Strategies' Rick Kelley discusses the nasty reputation management situation the Susan G. Comen for the Cure foundation leapt into. Its mistake really boils down to Crisis Management 101: Assess the Reaction to What You Do.

Learning from the success organizations like Dominos have had combating reputation issues with video, FedEx immediately got a senior VP on camera to apologize when footage of a delivery driver literally hurling a computer monitor over a customer's fence went viral. This time, FedEx Gets Crisis Management Right.

In Twitter Underprepared for Censorship Backlash, we take a critical look at Twitter's handling of its censorship policy announcement from a crisis manager's point of view. The lack of preparation for addressing an extremely touchy subject left us scratching our heads.

What do you do when the federal government saddles your budget airline with regulations forcing you to disguise taxes as increased fares? Spirit Airlines decided to fire off an email to all of its customers telling them exactly what was happening, and suggesting a way they could help. Talk About Transparency!

Reporters are like card sharks, the slightest give will tell them everything they need to know. Don't Tip Your Hand, make sure you're prepared before you start the information rolling.

Erik Bernstein is a freelance writer, editor of Crisis Manager, and Social Media Manager for Bernstein Crisis Management
APROPOS OF NOTHING

Communicating in Crisis: The First 24 Hours 

 

On March 1, Jonathan Bernstein will be teaming up with Communitelligence to present an in-depth webinar focused on what to do when a crisis breaks and things get ugly.  

 

Touching on issues including crisis communications mistakes, how to properly plan for and initiate a crisis response, speaking to stakeholders, and more, this is a must for business leaders and crisis managers alike.

 

Use code bernsteincrisis when you register to get a 20% discount.

 

Crisis Management Database - from Jonathan Bernstein

 

If you are a crisis management professional or work in a related field -- e.g., media training, business continuity -- write to me for information on how to be part of my new Crisis Management Database.

 

Jonathan's Latest Online Finds

 

To create a simple, searchable database -- Wufoo.  It's what we're using now for our Crisis Management Database.

 

To see a really strong and useful aggregation of investment-related news -- SeekingAlpha.

 

For the best way to network and share information with other small businesses --Social Media Examiner's Clubs.

 

 


BUSINESS ANNOUNCEMENTS
(aka blatant self-promotion) 

 

 

Manager's Guide to Crisis Management

 

MgrsGuideCover

Whether you're a seasoned manager, aspiring up-and-comer, or student of crisis management, Jonathan Bernstein's new book, "Manager's Guide to Crisis Management," (McGraw-Hill, 2011) will put you in control of any situation. Reviews at Amazon (the link above) are stellar, and McGraw-Hill reports they are pleased with sales-to-date. 

 

 

 

Keeping the Wolves at Bay: Media Training 

 

Book Cover JPG

What has 80+ pages of hard-hitting, enter-

taining and easy-to-read guidance on how to deal with both traditional and online media during times of crisis?  The answer is 

Keeping the Wolves at Bay - Media Training. 

The, four-color, perfect-bound, 8x10 manual is currently available both in hardcopy ($25) and PDF form ($10). Volume discounts are available; write to Jonathan Bernstein for that information.

 

Here's a couple of teaser reviews for you:

 

Jonathan Bernstein's Keeping the Wolves at Bay is an eminently practical guidance for anyone - business leader, celebrity, politician - who must willingly or unwillingly face the glare of media attention. It appears
at a moment in time when the social media and other digital communications have upped the ante exponentially.
Bernstein's practicum on media relations takes on renewed urgency as news, gossip, and opinion now drive
public perception virally and at the speed of light.

 
Richard Levick, Esq.
President & CEO
Levick Strategic Communications, LLC

 
Even if you think you'll never, ever be interviewed by the media, buy this book and read it cover to cover. It isn't a substitute for media training. But it will give you the tools and confidence to go head to head -- and possibly even defang -- rabid reporters, blood-thirsty bloggers and social networking buffoons who are out to besmirch your good name.

Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound 

 

Want To Blog And Tweet About

Your Organization But Don't Have Time? 


Missing out on all the promotional and SEO advantages of doing so? Hire someone to be your voice...like Erik Bernstein, editor of Crisis Manager.

 

More info:erik@bernsteincrisismanagement.com.

 


GUEST AUTHORS

Guest authors are very welcome to submit material for "Crisis Manager." There is no fee paid, but most guest authors have reported receiving business inquiries as a result of appearing in this publication. Case histories, experience-based lessons, commentary on current news events and editorial opinion are all eligible for consideration. Submission is not a guarantee of acceptance.

 


ABOUT THE PUBLISHER AND EDITOR


JB NewErik Bernstein

Jonathan Bernstein is both publisher of Crisis Manager and president of Bernstein Crisis Management, Inc., a national crisis management public relations agency providing 24/7 access to crisis response professionals. The agency engages in the full spectrum of crisis management services: crisis prevention, response, planning & training. He has been in the public relations field since 1982, following five-year stints in both military intelligence and investigative reporting.

Write to Jonathan at: jonathan@bernsteincrisismanagement.com.

Erik Bernstein is editor of Crisis Manager and is also Social Media Manager for Bernstein Crisis Management, Inc.

Write to Erik at: erik@bernsteincrisismanagement.com.

 


LEGAL DISCLAIMER

All information contained herein is obtained by Jonathan Bernstein from sources believed by Jonathan Bernstein to be accurate and reliable.

Because of the possibility of human and mechanical error as well as other factors, neither Jonathan Bernstein nor Bernstein Crisis Management is responsible for any errors or omissions. All information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Bernstein Crisis Management and Jonathan Bernstein make no representations and disclaim all express, implied, and statutory warranties of any kind to the user and/or any third party including, without limitation, warranties as to accuracy, timeliness, completeness, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose.


Unless due to willful tortuous misconduct or gross negligence, Jonathan Bernstein and Bernstein Crisis Management shall have no liability in tort, contract, or otherwise (and as permitted by law, product liability), to the user and/or any third party.


Under no circumstance shall Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein be liable to the user and/or any third party for any lost profits or lost opportunity, indirect, special, consequential, incidental, or punitive damages whatsoever, even if Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein has been advised of the possibility of such damages.


A service of this newsletter is to provide news summaries and/or snippets to readers. In such instances articles and/or snippets will be reprinted as they are received from the originating party or as they are displayed on the originating website or in the original article. As we do not write the news, we merely point readers to it, under no circumstance shall Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein be liable to the user and/or any third party for any lost profits or lost opportunity, indirect, special, consequential, incidental, or punitive damages whatsoever due to the distribution of said news articles or snippets that lead readers to a full article on a news service's website, even if Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Authors of the original news story and their publications shall be exclusively held liable. Any corrections to news stories are not mandatory and shall be printed at the discretion of the list moderator after evaluation on a case-by-case basis.


In This Issue
Just A Thought
Blogs!
Apropos of Nothing
Quick Links
Contact

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