What is Crisis Communications?

In the event a high profile organizational setback orprovide assistance to existing publications and
emergency occurs, what is know as the crisiswebsites. The communications consultant will ensure a
communication mode takes over.single message is reported to affected audiences and
At these crucial times, the corporate communicationsmedia outlets.
office immediately becomes the face and voice of theIn any crisis situation, the only successful strategy is for
organization, especially when dealing with the media.the corporate communications consultant to bring any
Corporate Communications blends the roles of publicbad news to the media, first. The worst possible
relations, advertising and marketing into a single, highlyposture is for the organization to find itself reacting to
focused campaign.bad news that is generated by the media.
This involves carefully managing talent. A corporateCan Corporate Communications and the principles of
communications consultant will accurately assess eachcommunication benefit virtually any organization in vital
person, with a goal of utilizing of their relative strengths,and relevant ways?
weaknesses and personality traits.Yes. There are three primary categories of
Under the old model in which outside firms wereorganizations that a corporate communications
contracted for PR or advertising help, any organization,consultant can effect most directly:
no matter how big or influential, was still just one of(1) Corporate, or for-profit, businesses and corporations,
many clients, regardless of the circumstances.embracing companies of any size and any industry.
While this approach is fine for the consultant, it deniesThey can vary from industrial and service-oriented
the client - it denies you - continuity, quality control andbusinesses, to professional sports teams, leagues,
the kind of accountability that can only come from aentertainment venues and everything in between.
long-standing relationship.(2) Not-for-Profit organizations, which usually range
These methods are and always were expensive andfrom schools, to labor unions, to cultural settings like
time-consuming. It also limits marketing to either salesmuseums or foundations, to charities of all types.
or fundraising, and tends to put communications in a(3) Government Organizations that include the local,
box and exclude it from a client's overall strategic mix.state and federal levels.
The new model for any corporate communicationsThe real goal of corporate communications is to send
strategy must employ a focused and strategicthe right message to the right audience at the right
approach. Ideally, the consultant will set up an in-housetime, using the most effective tools available.
communications office that acts as an on-call liaisonYou need to be able to create those messages,
for all other departments in the organization.identify the target publics or audiences, and make wise
The consultant will support the various departments inselections in the channels used to send out those
writing, editing, public speaking, speech writing andmessages.