You might think that the worst has happened, but unless you handle the media effectively your serious issue could escalate into a full-grown crisis.
Here are a few tips to remember in a crisis.
- Act Promptly – Gather your crisis management team.
- Assess the situation, what are the facts, who is affected, who is your audience?
- Prepare your messages – don’t leave a vacuum for others to fill. Social media will spread all sorts of rumours within minutes.
- Front Up – When the media first call, offer a credible, media-trained spokesperson. The broadcast media needs a person. Radio needs a voice, television needs a face and voice.
- Leave print interviews to your communications team. They can send a written statement within minutes of a crisis occurring. Newspaper currency is still the written word – so send them the written word.
- Radio – needs sound, a calm, clear voice.
- Television – needs sound and visuals. Your spokesperson will have to appear composed and in control, perhaps at the scene of a major incident.
- What do you say? Well, stick to the facts, don’t spin.
- You may never know all the facts, but you will know most on day 1, within minutes of the incident.
- Remember you only need to fill 3 minutes for a radio interview and maybe less for a live TV interview.
- Be consistent and tell them the basic facts and don’t be afraid to repeat yourself. You won’t sound repetitive because you will be relaying the same facts in different words.
- You can do it – with Media Friendly training and a bit of practice.
Call us, preferably before a crisis hits, but if you need help we can offer advice and support now.
Media Friendly specialise in Media Training, PR, and Communication skills. We deliver everything from Presentation Skills to Crisis Media Management. We also offer PR and Crisis Management support. For immediate support call Media Friendly on 01628474154, or email enquiries@mediafriendly.org