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CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS (G009)

Workshops > Government > Complete List > Crisis Communications

WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?

There will be a crisis! If you choose to work in communications then eventually you will have to communicate about a real crisis situation. And for everyone involved, especially you, it will be a frustrating, perplexing and confusing experience. In a crisis, you can expect to be deluged by the media, politicians, special interest groups and even your colleagues. Also, you will be expected to come up with an immediate, accurate, compassionate and believable communications plan just as the media and public are beginning to descend upon you. However, through forward planning, being adequately prepared and understanding the essentials of crisis communications you will be able to successfully undertake crisis communications for your organization.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

How to:

Recognize different types of crises and differentiate between a crisis and an emergency
Plan for, identify and deal with crises
Carry out a crisis audit and learn about "crisis theming©"
Understand and manage the media during a crisis
Use the Internet for crisis communications and deal with a crisis on the Internet
Develop a comprehensive crisis communications strategy
Turn a crisis communications strategy into a workable action plan
Take part in a crisis communications simulation exercise

WHAT WILL YOU TAKE AWAY?

Workbook with checklists, how-to procedures/reminders and templates
Exercise hand-outs

Agenda Day 1
8:45 - 8:50 AM	Participant Introductions and Workshop Overview
8:50 - 9:30 AM	Strategic Communications and Crisis Communications Strategic communication planning; the relationship of crisis and strategic communications.
9:30 - 10:00 AM	Planning for a Crisis What is a smoldering crisis? How to short-circuit a potential crisis. How to develop and implement a crisis communications audit.
10:00 - 10:30 AM	The Management Principles of Crisis Communications Crisis management and crisis communications; the philosophy of the three "T's"; developing and implementing a message action plan and a crisis information checklist.
10:30 - 10:45 AM	Break
10:45 - 11:30 AM	The Initial Response to a Crisis The crucial importance of the initial response; what your spokesperson should and should not say during the initial response; the fundamentals of information disclosure, messaging and "language" during a crisis.
11:30 AM - 12:30	Exercise: Participants will outline the key points to be included an initial response to a crisis. Report back by small groups and discussion period.
12:30 - 1:30 PM	Lunch
1:30 - 2:30 PM	Preparing a Crisis Communications Strategy and Action Plan The essential components of a crisis communications strategy; being strategic when time is short; incorporating "results based communications" into crisis communications planning.
2:30 - 2:45 PM	Break
2:45 - 4:15 PM	Case Study Exercise: Developing key elements of a crisis communications strategy. Report back by small groups and discussion period.
4:15 - 4:30 PM	Concluding Remarks and Lessons Learned

Agenda Day 2
8:30 - 10:00 AM	Surviving a Crisis in Cyberspace Understanding and successfully managing a crisis on the Internet; using the Internet as a communications tool during a crisis.
10:00 - 10:15 AM	Break
10:15 - 10:30 AM	The Crisis Communications Team Developing a successful crisis team; determining who should be on the team; the training required to prepare the team for action.
10:45 - 11:30 AM	Managing the Media During a Crisis How the media functions during a crisis; establishing a working relationship with the media; the essentials of managing the media during a crisis and developing a media relations strategy; the tell-tale signs of impending trouble with the media.
11:30 AM - 12:00	Exercise: Participants will work in small groups to develop components of a media relations strategy. Report back by small groups and discussion period
12:30 - 1:30 PM	Lunch
1:30 - 2:00 PM	Resolving A Crisis How to determine when a crisis is over; the role for communications during the post-crisis period; evaluating crisis communications strategies, plans and actions.
2:00 - 4:00 PM	Crisis Communications Simulation Exercise: Participants will take part in a realistic crisis communications simulation exercise.
4:00 - 4:30 PM	Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation

Instructor

David Kardish

David Kardish, APR, is President of the CEC and has over twenty years of experience working in all aspects of communications in Canada and the United Kingdom.

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