This Crisis Communication course provides a foundation for communicating with key audiences immediately after and during a crisis.

The training guides participants toward a clearer understanding of the issues that could constitute a crisis, what is at stake in a crisis, how the media will likely respond, and the urgent demands to engage with audiences. With this understanding, Participants then learn how to manage a crisis with compassion, clarity and an organized process.

We discuss the two biggest mistakes organizations make in a crisis and how to avoid them. The course includes a discussion of issues that arise during the critical first hours of a crisis and considerations in determining when and whom to contact at the onset of a crisis.

Lecture includes critical elements of the crisis communication plan such as check lists, how to buy-time with the news media and other key audiences, and how to present challenging or upsetting information. Training includes how to anticipate the media’s response to the crisis, respond when you cannot answer a question without using the phrase “no comment,” and how to strategize for long-term media coverage.

After an initial training period, participants work through an actual crisis incident. Using newly learned tools and testing their own judgment, they will work as a team to determine next steps and create a First-hour Response Checklist.

Participants leave the course prepared to deal with an incident and continue operations without unacceptable damage or loss. Participants will received sample key messages that can be modified and used to respond to most crises as well as tools to help them manage the victim dimension of the crisis.

Participants will learn how to organize and deliver a news conference, respond to difficult questions, and reach the resolution phase of crisis management.