There are several different theories in PR on how handle a crisis. Some are dealt with military precision, while others snowball into an even larger debacle. Although I believe the circumstances dictate the best way to handle a PR crisis, there should be a pre-meditated plan that is ready should the worst-case scenario occur.

Do I Need A Plan B?

Yes! Seems obvious, doesn’t it? However, some argue that if you put enough time and preparation into Plan A, you shouldn’t need a Plan B. In fact, having a secondary plan can look like a lack of confidence in your primary plan. It’s a very simplistic way to view things. There are always variables outside your control that could derail your campaign, or at least cause a glitch. Not to mention, the entire realm of possible events, miscues, or stumbles that aren’t directly tied to the campaign but can cause just as much damage. A backup plan is an excellent way to patch a campaign back together if it breaks, or it can act as a safety net but it’s not a panacea. Can you even prepare for such spontaneity?  How can you cover every angle?

You can’t, or at least you shouldn’t. Having a contingency plan for every possible situation is a waste of time and resources. Yet, that doesn’t mean you can’t be as prepared as a boyscout. The trick is action…swift, transparent action. The longer you remain inactive after a bump in the road, the worse it gets. Not addressing the problem quickly and appropriately can make the smallest crack into the largest canyon.

1. Identify the mistake or problem
2. Have a meeting with the PR department or firm
3. Act

Cleaning Up A Crisis

In recent news there have been a couple situations that, at least in my opinion, were PR disasters. I want to know whether you think they were handled well and/or what you would have done differently.

• Penn State – Jerry Sandusky, a coach for Penn State’s football team, has been accused of several count child sexual abuse. Since the issue has become public, two school board members were found guilty of perjury and duly fired, the head coach of the last several decades was fired for ‘moral misconduct’, the school attempted to sweep the scandal under the rug, more victims come forward every day, yet, no clear statement has been made by Penn State.
• Herman Cain – This Republican Presidential Candidate was accused of sexual harassment by several women. After denying any knowledge of these suits, Cain’s story continued to change. He admitted to some of suits but continued to proclaim his innocence.

Related articles

• Penn State Scandal: Jerry Sandusky Cited As Case Against Same-Sex Parenting By Anti-Gay Speakers (VIDEO) (huffingtonpost.com)
• Shop Talk: Scandals Hit Penn State, Herman Cain (npr.org)

Tags: Herman Cain, Jerry Sandusky, Penn State, pr, public relations, Republican Party (United States)

This entry was posted on November 14, 2011 at 3:08 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Posted in Public Relations by Gabe Chesman No Comments Yet