"The best crisis, is the one prevented"
In Public Relations, anticipation is your greatest weapon.
By Amanda & Tehani
2017
Public Affairs and Mass Media
An interview with Lt. Col. Charles J. Anthony on Public Affairs and Public Relations in Crisis Communication. Lt. Col. Anthony is the Public Affairs Officer for the State of Hawaii Department of Defense, HIEMA. This interview took place after the 2017 2nd Annual University of Hawaii at Manoa Crisis Communication Exercise with the Capstone Journalism Students where Lt. Col. Anthony participated in the exercise.
NEWS PRESS RELEASE
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QUESTIONS:
Questions to consider when dealing with a crisis situation.
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What contributing factors define a crisis situation?
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Who are the people in charge of handling this emergency?
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How are all the roles and responsibilities defined within the crisis management team?
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Who are the stakeholders in this crisis?
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What immediate actions can we expect to take place?
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What is the reporting process during the crisis?
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Why is it important to anticipate crisis situations?
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When does it become necessary to involve the media?
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What are the proper communication channels in an emergency crisis?
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After identifying the situation as a crisis, at what point should the public be informed?
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How do you frame the message so that the public perceives the crisis as serious, without elevating panic and concern?
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How does social media play a role in emergency crises?
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What is the desired outcome?
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What can still be prevented?
We can not plan for every potential threat, but we can anticipate and develop plan options that will be activated in the event of a crisis. In public relations, a news press release is used as a media tactic to quickly address the public about the facts of the situation. Below is a template that provides information on the specific details that go into a press release.