Latest news with #crisiscommunication
CNA
2 days ago
- Business
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Cat got your tongue? Learning the art of talking
CNA938 Rewind - Did CEO Andy Byron need to resign after viral 'kiss cam' controversy? IT company CEO Andy Byron, captured in a widely circulated video showing him embracing an employee at a Coldplay concert, has resigned. The incident raises questions about public surveillance, workplace boundaries and how quickly private moments can become public in the digital age. Did he need to resign or could a solid crisis communication plan be enough? Hairianto Diman chatted with Hazel Westwood, Crisis and Reputation Management expert to find out.
Fast Company
09-07-2025
- General
- Fast Company
A Guide to Crisis Communication Leadership in Higher Ed
Universities face events that can erupt quickly and without warning—from severe weather to public health emergencies to campus safety concerns. Communicating during these fast-moving events can mean the difference between keeping the University community safe and creating unnecessary challenges and questions about leadership. The institutions that emerge stronger from these crises are those that prepare for a variety of scenarios; identify how they will communicate with students, faculty and staff members, parents, and others; and prioritize the needs of the University community above all else. A century after the University of Miami endured what was then called the most destructive storm in U.S. history, the higher education institution has developed, tested, and refined a crisis communications model rooted in clarity, compassion, and coordination. Their latest case study—Crisis Communication Leadership in Higher Ed—shares the lessons learned and tools they've established for effective leadership when the stakes are high. In 1926, just weeks after welcoming its first class, the University of Miami was struck by the Great Miami Hurricane. The devastation was swift and unforgiving, but it planted the seeds of a communications culture that would come to define the institution through future crises—one of honesty, blended perspectives, and diverse skillsets. Now, the University's communications legacy has evolved into a sophisticated, multi-layered approach that meets audiences where they are at a time when those audiences consume and seek information at an overwhelming pace. This strategy allows University leaders to remain proactive yet nimble, and not only manage—but lead—when the pressure is on. When Hurricane Ian approached in 2022, the University was ready. Drawing on hard-won lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the communications team, led by Vice President Jacqueline R. Menendez, activated an omnichannel model. Across every relevant channel that mattered to their audiences, every school and department spoke with one voice. The schools and colleges paused non-crisis content and directed students, faculty and staff members, and others to official updates. AI -supported listening tools flagged emerging misinformation and tracked community sentiment in real time, enabling the team to stay ahead of the information curve and focus on what mattered most to those affected. And above all, it was imperative that the team met people where they were —on the channels they actually use. PURPOSEFUL CRISIS RESPONSE THAT SUPPORTS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY In today's media-saturated world, a single email blast no longer suffices. The campaign wasn't just about reaching people once; it was about staying in touch on multiple channels throughout the lifecycle of the crisis. To build trust and ensure no one was left in the dark, the team recognized that different audiences consume information in different ways. For example, Gen Z students may turn to Instagram or Reddit, while faculty and staff members might rely on email or internal platforms. To address this, the team launched a comprehensive outreach strategy that included emergency alerts, social media content, video messages, and public-facing websites with FAQs and pertinent information. Social media played a pivotal role. To manage the influx of conversation and information sharing, the social media team was embedded within the response. This ensured real-time updates and coordinated messaging. All crisis-related content was vetted for tone, accuracy, and platform fit. Every post and every word had a purpose. To achieve consistency across platforms and messages, twelve colleges and schools, each with their own communications leads, operated under dual reporting roles—both within a centralized communications team and within their respective units. This structure allowed for rapid, coordinated messaging that cut through the noise and delivered clarity when it mattered most. The communications team members needed not only to coordinate among themselves but also work seamlessly with teams across the University. The overall crisis response depended on a meticulously coordinated infrastructure capable of handling real-time communication and monitoring. As part of the University of Miami's crisis preparedness, communications are purposefully integrated into every phase of planning, response, and recovery through a cross-functional team, led by Matthew Shpiner, executive director for Emergency Management. The University has invested in a permanent Unified Operations Center and developed workflows that engage both internal leadership and external stakeholders. This structure ensures that decisions are made quickly, messaging remains consistent, and responses are coordinated across all units. As higher education faces increasing scrutiny and complexity, the University of Miami's crisis communications playbook reminds us that while we may not be able to prevent the storm, we can lead through it with clarity, compassion, and courage.
Fast Company
09-07-2025
- Fast Company
How to turn crisis response into community trust
The University of Miami has turned 100 years of experience navigating high-stakes situations into a tested and trusted communications model—and the leadership team is ready to share what they've learned. Buckle up and bookmark this page for future reference—you never know when you might need it. Why it's important. Universities face events that can escalate quickly and without warning—from extreme weather and public health emergencies to campus safety incidents. Clear, timely communication during these moments is essential to protect the university community and maintain trust. The idea. You can't control the crisis, but you can control the communication. And in a crisis, your message is your leadership. The institutions that thrive are the ones that prepare, unify and speak with purpose—before, during, and after the storm. Here's how. University of Miami's plan works because it makes communications a core function of crisis response, not just an afterthought. Success takes: Unified messaging from a center-led comms model. Real-time coordination between emergency management and leadership. Social listening tools to surface sentiment and squash misinformation. Multichannel outreach, from internal dashboards to emergency texts to FAQ pages. A people-first mindset that values humility, empathy, and clarity in every message. An example. As Hurricane Ian approached Florida in 2022, leaders at the University of Miami didn't scramble; they activated a decisive plan. The result: Unified action, a faster response, and strengthened trust across the campus—and the community. Teams across departments used coordinated and pre-approved messaging to ensure clarity. Schools and colleges paused all non-crisis content and turned readers toward official updates. AI -supported listening tools flagged emerging misinformation and reader sentiment in real time. The result: Unified action, a faster response, and strengthened trust across the campus—and the community. What this means. Your response to a crisis should be more than a canned statement—it should be the result of collaboration, empathy, and thoughtful decision-making. Looking ahead. A disaster-prone world brings more frequent and more complex crises to higher education. University of Miami's crisis comms case study, built on its 100 years of history, sets a benchmark for industry leaders. The takeaway.
Forbes
25-06-2025
- General
- Forbes
Leading Through Uncertainty: Five Ways To Build Trust In A Storm
Female Leading Interview With Journalists Outside Eight years ago, I was hunkered down as Hurricane Harvey pummeled Houston, Texas. After receiving conflicting evacuation messages from local and state leaders, most of us decided to stay put through the storm, ultimately contributing to 103 deaths. Beyond the wind and rain, there were delayed decisions, mixed messages, and emergency alerts that didn't reach everyone. It was a case study in the consequences of poor communication during a crisis, a reminder that leading through uncertainty requires clarity, speed, and trust. Because we couldn't count on real-time updates from official sources, social media became our lifeline (and, at times, our source for dangerous misinformation). Harvey taught me that in a crisis, delayed or unclear communication can be just as harmful as the threat itself. From tariffs to AI to climate change to global conflict, we're operating in an era defined by instability. If you're waiting for the storm to pass before you communicate with your organization, you're leaving your folks to make their own forecasts (and evacuation plans).An Age of Instability We are living in an age of shifting winds: the 2025 Heidrick & Struggles CEO & Board Confidence Monitor names economic uncertainty, geopolitical volatility, and shifting market dynamics as the top three challenges facing organizations today. Executives are braced for squalls, and they know it will only get more turbulent. Unfortunately, most leaders aren't confident their teams are equipped to navigate the stormy weather. According to the Weber Shandwick Collective C-Suite Outlook Report, only 17% of CEOs feel their communications and public affairs functions are fully prepared to keep pace with today's rapid economic, geopolitical, and market shifts. 13% of CEOs report their confidence in those functions has actually declined. This uncertainty and weak internal communication doesn't just trickle down: it floods organizations, compounding confusion and stress for employees who have less insight and agency than senior leaders. When workers aren't kept in the loop about company strategy, they're left guessing how it will affect their roles… or whether they'll even still have one in the coming You Can't Wait to Communicate The truth is that uncertainty heightens anxiety and erodes trust, and those leaders who wait to communicate deepen this tension within their orgs. Silence leaves employees to wonder if leadership even sees the storm raging, causing cognitive dissonance and creating disconnect. You can tell this is happening when employees begin to withhold their concerns, a dynamic called employee silence. Unfortunately, mutual quiet doesn't signal calm. It signals that the organization is in the eye of the storm. Team members burn out, make avoidable errors, and ultimately drift toward companies that promise clearer Through Uncertainty So what should leaders do to communicate effectively with their orgs when facing uncertainty? Here are five things you can do now:Leadership Isn't Certainty, It's Presence The hardest part about leading through uncertainty is resisting the urge to wait to communicate. In unpredictable times, your team doesn't need you to promise clear skies. They need you to give updates on the storm and share how you plan to ride it out together.
Zawya
19-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Sharjah Government Communication Award 2025 welcomes global submissions in four high-impact categories
Government & private entities, international organisations, and communication professionals can apply in SGCA's four key categories: innovation, crisis communication, integration, & soft power, until July 24, 2025. Sharjah: The Sharjah Government Communication Award (SGCA), globally recognised for honouring communicators as architects of reputation and agents of societal impact, is welcoming submissions from around the world across 23 categories. Among these are four internationally relevant categories that reflect key themes in modern communication: Best Integrated Communication System, Best Innovation in Government Communication, Best Crisis Communication Strategy, and Best Investment in Soft Power to Support Communication Programmes. Applications for the 12th edition of SGCA will remain open until Thursday, July 24, 2025, and can be submitted through the official portal: Submissions from eligible parties, including government and private institutions, international organisations, and communication professionals must reflect work initiated or significantly updated within the past two years. Category highlights The award for Best Integrated Communication System category honors those who have excelled in creating and implementing an integrated and innovative communication system for government institutions or international organisations, which brings together technical methodology to reliably and effectively build and manage an organisation's reputation, and develops government communication teams capable of implementing unconventional and innovative communication campaigns and practices. The jury will focus on essential criteria such as the clarity and adaptability of the strategy, the integration of communication components, and the innovation in communication methods. They will also assess the quality and impact of the content, tangible outcomes within both the community and government sectors, and the efficient use of resources. Successful submissions will showcase leadership, the ability to adapt to change, and measurable success in fostering public trust and collaboration through effective communication strategies. The award for Best Innovation in Government Communication category honours groundbreaking initiatives by government, private, or international organisations that enhance communication capabilities, adapt to changes, and provide innovative solutions to local challenges. Successful entries will demonstrate how they anticipate future trends, meet evolving audience needs, and improve the efficiency of government communication through creative use of technology. The jury will evaluate entries based on the clarity and originality of the idea, its integration with existing communication strategies, measurable impact, and long-term sustainability. Key criteria include innovation, scalability, the use of technology, and the ability to solve societal challenges, along with encouraging collaboration between people and machines for the future of government communication. The award Best Crisis Communication Strategy category recognises organisations that have implemented effective and timely communication strategies during crises of significant social impact. The strategy must demonstrate speed, transparency, and accuracy while mitigating the crisis's psychological and tangible effects. Successful entries will show how the strategy addressed health, environmental, economic, or social crises, minimising negative outcomes and raising public awareness. The jury will evaluate the strategy's alignment with the crisis, clarity of objectives, creativity, and use of media channels. Key criteria include measurable impact, responsiveness to public needs, and the strategy's ability to engage diverse audiences while achieving its goals and ensuring transparency. The focus will also be on the long-term social impact and sustainability of the strategy's results. The award for Best Investment in Soft Power to Support Communication Programmes category recognises government agencies, organisations, or private institutions that aim to influence public opinion and drive change through communication channels that are more engaging and accessible to communities, by using the influence of arts, culture, sports, economics, technology, education, drama, and music. These efforts contribute to development, serve the public good, and build strong reputations and identities. The jury will evaluate the effectiveness, creativity, and social impact of these investments, focusing on how they engage the public, promote cultural understanding, and deliver measurable outcomes. Sustainability, integration with broader communication strategies, and the transparency of the initiative will also be major factors in the evaluation. In a rapidly evolving world, where public trust depends on transparency and resonance, these awards are open to local, regional, and international entities and emphasise communication projects that have demonstrated the ability to respond to change, shift perceptions, ultimately having a measurable impact on society. Now in its 12th edition, SGCA stands as a global benchmark for government communication excellence. In 2024, the award received more than 3,800 entries from 44 countries. The award continues to build trust, inspire action, drive positive change, and redefine the relationship between institutions and societies across borders and cultures.
