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Any organization, regardless of its purpose or size, can experience a crisis with the potential to damage or destroy its reputation. Such an event is also the ultimate test of a communicator’s ability to think strategically and employ effective tactics in the face of tremendous pressure.
Because it can expand like a wildfire your response plan and people must be ready before a crisis occurs.
When the Balloon Goes Up: The Communicator’s Guide to Crisis Response is the how-to book to assist public relations practitioners, communications specialists and students of these subjects prepare for and respond to a crisis.
Latest Articles
Selecting Audiences and Preparing Messages
January 28, 2010 – 1:46 pm
One of the most important components of crisis response is effective communications, but to whom should you be talking and what should you be saying?
That depends on which stage your communications efforts are in:
Initial Stage
Primary… read more »
Personalities in Crisis: Tiger Woods
December 30, 2009 – 7:10 am
From the world's best golf professional to a politician to the director of a local charity, personalities at the top of their profession can engage in behavior that can damage or destroy their reputation and… read more »
Crisis Management Communications Roles and Responsibilities: Administrative Coordinator
November 23, 2009 – 1:39 pm
A crisis communications plan organizes your team into neat, specific roles and responsibilities to facilitate rapid and accurate response.
But ask anyone who has responded to a crisis, even a "small incident," and they will tell… read more »
Crisis Management Communications Roles and Responsibilities: Spokesperson
October 28, 2009 – 8:48 am
Bright lights switch on. Microphones and tape recorders are thrust at you. Harried reporters ask brusque questions.
What kind of person voluntarily steps into such mayhem?
If you are a member of a Crisis Communications Team that… read more »
Crisis Management Communications Roles and Responsibilities: Writer
September 22, 2009 – 11:14 am
For a variety of reasons many people don't like to write. Whether it's the trauma of getting started, struggling to find the right words or conquering writer's block, writing isn't everyone's cup of tea.
Introduce the… read more »
Crisis Management Communications Roles and Responsibilities: Analyst
August 31, 2009 – 1:43 pm
In the last article we discussed the role and responsibilities of the communications team leader. This article covers the duties of the communications analyst, the person who ensures the response is effective.
An Important Crisis Management… read more »
Crisis Management Communications Roles and Responsibilities: Team Leader
July 23, 2009 – 10:54 am
The first step in communicating about an event that places your organization's reputation at risk is a thorough understanding of the roles and responsibilities required for a successful response.
Depending on your organization's mission and the… read more »
Media Monitoring: A Look Outside Your Organization
April 1, 2009 – 11:20 am
Just as a pilot needs accurate information to navigate through clouds a communicator needs accurate feedback to navigate through the fog of a crisis. For most crises, that information can be obtained through media… read more »
What Separates When the Balloon Goes Up From Other Crisis Books?
March 9, 2009 – 10:56 am
I wrote When the Balloon Goes Up: The Communicator’s Guide to Crisis Response primarily for public relations/communications professionals and students who need crisis-tested strategies and tactics. The book contains some theory but mostly nuts-and-bolts… read more »
Evaluate the Performance of Other Organizations’ Crisis Response
March 9, 2009 – 10:44 am
While many newsmakers bemoan 24-hour news cycles, savvy crisis communicators can use the microscopic coverage of events to evaluate an organization's response.
Pay attention to what the organization says and does and shortly you will know… read more »
