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Just a
Thought
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"The
whole framework
of the
presidency is
getting out of
hand. It's come
to the point
where you almost
can't run unless
you can cause
people to
salivate and
whip on each
other with big
sticks. You
almost have to
be a rock star
to get the kind
of fever you
need to survive
in American
politics."
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From
the Editor
A frequent
topic in our
media training
sessions is
how to ensure
you deliver
your desired
message,
regardless of
what questions
are asked. The
premiere
example of
this is, of
course, the
presidential
race. If you
want a true
masterclass in
how to stick
to your key
messages, the
presidential
race is one to
watch.
Facing
hordes of
reporters,
appearing in
front of
millions via
TV, or being
ambushed with
questions
while rushing
to and fro;
presidential
candidates
must be able
to stay
on-message
regardless of
the
circumstances.
And, not only
must
candidates
deliver their
messages, but
they also need
to do so in a
thought-capturing and compelling way. As Hunter S. Thompson
pointed out
back in 1972,
the entire
show is meant
to drive
people into
fervent
support of
whichever side
they prefer,
and the idea
that one needs
a rock-star
size persona
to rise to the
top has only
become more
true in the
decades since.
What's
particularly
interesting to
me is watching
the
proceedings
from a
strictly
analytical
point of view.
This year we
have a serious
clash of
styles, with
one candidate
clearly
preferring a
blitz-like
"any publicity
is good
publicity"
campaign,
while the
other operates
in a more
calculating
and targeted
manner. If one
style leads to
victory, we're
certain to see
other public
figures
emulating it
for use in
their own
battles.
Though
many are quick
to lambaste
whichever
candidate they
like least
(and no, we
won't be
talking
personal
preferences in
this
newsletter!),
you must
realize that
anyone who
manages to
become a
serious
contender for
president is a
master of PR.
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Interested in
reprinting BCM
articles or blog
posts?
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We're
happy to give
permission for
material to be
reprinted in hard
copy or online!
If you find
something you would
like to reprint,
simply submit a
request to jonathan@bernsteincrisismanagement.com.
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Blogs
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Here,
we share a
look at some
of the most
popular posts
from recent
weeks:
A
security robot
allegedly
trampling a
small
child...pretty
much a nightmare
scenario for the
manufacturer,
right? Crisis Management Analysis: Security Robot Topples
Toddler investigates
how smooth
handling defused
this potentially
crushing crisis,
and what other
tech companies
can learn from
the robot's
makers.
Shared with us by
our friend Rick
Kelly, Guest
Post: I'll Have
the Filet Mignon,
Please digs into
the devastating
financial
situation VW may
face in Europe,
and the reputation
fallout that will
occur should it
skirt the problem
by cheaping out.
While much of
crisis management
should be
customized to the
issues at hand,
this Crisis
Communications
Principles
Infographic from
India-based
reputation firm Astrum shares
a few principles
that apply to just
about every
situation.
Did you know that
there is a Free
FEMA Course:
Social Media in
Emergency
Management?
While the
organization has
taken a beating
for past mistakes,
it's made every
effort to
strengthen its
operations and
share the hard
learned lessons
with the public.
Do
you have a
topic you'd
like to see
featured in
our blogs?
Send an email
to erik@bernsteincrisismanagement.com
and there's a
good chance
you'll be
seeing it
right here in
the next
issue!
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Business
Announcements
(aka
blatant
self-promotion)
New:
Survey-Based
Vulnerability
Audits
A
comprehensive
vulnerability
audit is one of
the most effective
ways to spot
current or
potential issues
that could lead to
damaging crises,
and now we've
figured out a way
to significantly
reduce both the
time and costs
associated with
traditional
in-person audits!
Our
new
survey-platform-based
comprehensive
vulnerability
audit is designed
around a
customized
platform which
allows us to
deliver our audit
questions to the
right people via
online survey. The
process is
completely
confidential,
while allowing
participants to
respond on their
own schedule - to
include being able
to save and return
to the survey -
and even allowing
if/then direction
of respondents to
certain categories
of questions based
on their
positions/access
to different types
of information. A
demo is available
on request.
Are
There Any Holes
in Your Crisis
Planning?
Your
organization may
well have crisis
prevention and
response-related
plans in place -
but are you sure
they're going to
cover all the
bases? Bernstein
Crisis
Management's
Crisis Document
Audit is a
low-cost,
flat-rate
service which
will quickly
provide you with
a comprehensive
analysis of your
existing plans
and
recommendations
for improvement.
We're
Giving Away Keeping
the Wolves at
Bay and
other crisis
publications!
Several
new items have
been added to
our FREE crisis
management
library,
including Keeping
the Wolves at
Bay, the
widely used
media-training
manual published
by Jonathan
Bernstein.
Exciting
New Services
from Bernstein
Crisis
Management
We
are are proud to
introduce two new
services that will
allow us to better
meet the needs of
our clients!
First,
from entering new
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billion-dollar
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led by twenty year
veteran Greg
Brooks, will help
you win the battle
for the hearts and
minds of audiences
from City Council
to the halls of
Congress.
Our
second addition is
based on the
belief that an
important piece in
managing a crisis
includes attending
to the emotional
reactions that
influence the
outcome. Presented
and facilitated by
Steven Degelsmith,
Ph.D., our focused
human
factors in
crisis
management
service will
equip you with the
tools you need to
handle even the
most volatile of
situations.
Social
Media Crisis
Training
A solid social
media manager has
quickly become a
must-have for
organizations of
any size, and can
make an immense
difference by
driving in
customers and
building your
positive
reputation online.
The
problem is, the
vast majority are
simply not
equipped to even
identify building
crises, much less
take the steps
necessary to cope
with and mitigate
the damage that
can result.
That's where we
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Bernstein
Crisis Management
is now offering
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social media
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About Us
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:
Erik
Bernstein is
vice president
of Bernstein
Crisis
Management, and
editor of this
newsletter.
Working in
crisis
management since
2009, Erik has
watched the
internet and
social media
change the
field. Today, he
brings that
experience to
bear assisting
clients to
protect and grow
their
reputations
using tactics
based on
real-world
knowledge and
experience.
Write
to Erik at:
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Legal
Disclaimer
(aka the small
print)
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
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user and/or any
third party
including,
without
limitation,
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timeliness,
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merchantability,
or fitness for
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Unless
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misconduct or
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Jonathan
Bernstein and
Bernstein Crisis
Management shall
have no
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or otherwise
(and as
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Under
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Crisis
Management or
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A
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