Incident and Crisis Response Communication Skills

• Develop practical skills enabling effective communication at the time of an incident
• Familiarize students with both techniques & technologies involved in crisis communication
• Provide a health-check for your personal & organizational readiness
• Provide the confidence to know that your response strategies are appropriate and effective
• Build relevant knowledge through exploring relevant case studies and practical exercises
• Develop flexible creative and well-motivated teams

COURSE CONTENT

Orientating to Communication at the Time of a Crisis or Incident

• Key Principles of Crisis Communication and Incident Response
• An Overview of the Scope & Role of Public Relations
• Key Underpinning Concepts in PR
• What Makes a Crisis?
• The Importance of Reputation Management
• An Exploration of Stakeholders - Who Want to Know What Is Going On and Why You Must Communicate
• The Ethical Framework for Communication

Creating a Crisis or Incident Plan

• What is Crisis Management?
• Why do you need a plan and what should be in it?
• The Planning Process & Vulnerability Audit
• Alerting Procedures
• Response Structures
• Exercise High Roller

Media Management

• Media – friend or foe? A Journalistic Perspective
• What is News? Who are Journalists & What do they want?
• Media Management Strategies
• Media Relations
• Managing Stress
• Managing Filming and Photography
• Organising a Media Centre & Press Conference
• Leadership and The Role of  A Leader

Communication Formats & Strategies (Includes Practical Exercises)

• Linking Timelines and Strategies in Communication
• News Releases, Holding Statements and News Statements
• Media Briefings and Media Interviews
• Media Interviews Exercise
• Other Media Environments

Social Media & Crisis Communication

• Orientation to Digital & Social Media
• Citizen Journalists
• Social Media & Crises
• Case Studies
• Ethical Issues with Social Media
• Final Exercise

FOR WHOM:

TRAINING METHODOLOGY

The training methodology combines lectures, discussions, group exercises and illustrations. Participants will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge of the topics. The emphasis is on the practical application of the topics and as a result participant will go back to the workplace with both the ability and the confidence to apply the techniques learned to their duties.