Ono the Ostrich CRISIS 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

Social Media, Disease Scares and Patent Battles, Oh My!


Volume XIII, Number 20

November 15, 2012   


JUST A THOUGHT    

 

It often takes an outside eye to spot an inside problem.  

  

                              - Erik Bernstein   

                                


FROM THE EDITOR  

 

  

Dear David Petraeus,

Just out of curiosity, how many training plans that explicitly discussed the dangers of placing yourself in a vulnerable situation did you sign off on in your time as director of the CIA?

Such training has always been SOP for our intelligence and military services, yet apparently it failed to prevent someone at the very top from violating those tenets.

To me, the whole situation serves as an unnerving reminder that even the most qualified and experienced among us can fall blindly into crisis. Certainly, it's a fact to consider heavily in your crisis management planning. As one our latest blog posts explains, "Nothing is Invulnerable."

As always, you'll also find a summary of the best from both of our blogs.  

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!

 

          - Ed.

 

 

 

 

P.S. from Jonathan Bernstein -   I couldn't resist my own postscript here.  When I was in military intelligence training in 1973-74, they warned us against the risk of "honey traps," the female bait then notoriously used by the KGB to obtain leverage against their targets. We were also warned against ANY behavior that could be used against us by anyone. That said...sometimes the will weakens, despite all the training, and so goes General Petraeous.  I have the greatest admiration for his contributions as a leader and warrior, and I'm sad to see him go out this way. 

BLOGS!
By Erik Bernstein
Social media, disease scares and patent battles are just part of the crisis management news and insight waiting for you!

Here's a look at some recent posts from both the Bernstein Crisis Management blog and our Crisis Management blog over at Carter McNamara's Free Management Library.

We've all heard the expression "the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing," and I think we can agree it's never a good thing. That's why Sharing Responsibility for Social Media Crisis Management is absolutely critical to success. Get everyone involved and watch your programs take off!

It doesn't take a trained spy to catch reputation crushing evidence. The fact that the majority of the population carries a phone that can record and transmit in high quality means there is no more room for shenanigans "behind closed doors." Don't believe us? Read Busted! Constant Recording as a Crisis Management Reality.

CDC Shows Crisis Management Expertise in Meningitis Scare is just the latest case study we've had the pleasure of writing, as the Center's expertise in crisis communications continues to demonstrate. Taking on a job for its fellows at the FDA this time, the CDC bent its efforts toward the task of collecting and disseminating information regarding the major meningitis scare that swept the country.

You may be the best writer on the planet, but unless you're trained in Speaking Effectively for Crisis Management, you're missing a key part of the package. Mastering this skill is no simple task, but learn how to navigate even the trickiest of interviews or roughest of crowds and you'll add a powerful weapon to your crisis management arsenal.

Apple's (court-ordered) Non-Apology Apology following a loss to Samsung in UK courts flew in the face of crisis management strategy, thumbing a nose at the presiding judge as well as their competition with a snarky post. Is Apple being an iBully, or simply flexing for an appreciative fan base? You be the judge!

In what's become a regular occurrence, another simple mistake has created a social media crisis for, in this case, the Australian Red Cross. Employee Error Dings Aussie Red Cross' Reputation explores the nasty slip that brought a horde of angry stakeholders down on the organization's Facebook page.

A guest post from PR pro Brian Adams, Winnie the Pooh on...Social Media, explores choice quotes from the Hundred Acre Woods that apply perfectly to the modern world of social media.

It's natural to become very stressed during times of trouble, but if you can Calm Yourself Through Crisis, you'll be better off in the end. Learn why you have to calm down for the best crisis management to come through, and get some tips on how to soothe those frayed nerves.

Hilarious YouTube campaigns from J&J and most recently Bodyform have proven that yes, sometimes it is OK to use Humor as Crisis Management. Although the conditions need to be right, sometimes just having a good laugh together can erase an awful lot of ill will.

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

We Are Giving Away Business!!

 

Did that get your attention? Bernstein Crisis Management has been blessed for some time with more work than I can handle on my own, so the expert contractors in my Crisis Management Database have been getting more and more referrals lately and/or brought in as my subcontractors.  That's the virtual business model I've had since 1994, and today that model is widely accepted and appreciated by our clients.  So, if you have a crisis management-related business and would like to be considered for my Database, please write to me!  - Jonathan 

 

The Bernsteins Available to Deliver Free Guest Lectures

 

Jonathan alone, or the team of Jonathan and Erik Bernstein, are available at no charge to deliver guest lectures to college classes via Skype or Google Hangout. We've already conducted several with our friend Dr. Janice Frates at Cal State University Long Beach, and are ready to expand our offering to any college professor. All you need at your end is a single computer with webcam and a strong broadband connection. Contact us for more info!

 

Attention Corporate Boards of Directors (and those who serve them). 

 

If you're connected with a corporate board of directors in some way and think that board would benefit from having a veteran crisis management pro amongst its membership, please contact me. -- Jonathan

 


BUSINESS ANNOUNCEMENTS
(aka blatant self-promotion) 

 

 

NEW PRICING FOR
Keeping the Wolves at Bay: Media Training
 

 

Book Cover JPG

Reflecting a significant change in the book-selling marketplace, we have reduced the cost of this popular media training manual from $49 to $25 for the hard copy and from $29.95 to $10 for the PDF.

 

Visit The Crisis Manager Bookstore for more information and/or to purchase.

 

 

  

 

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 textbook, Manager's Guide to Crisis Management (McGraw-Hill, 2011) will put you in control of any situation. 

 

 

 

 

 

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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