Category Archives: emergency services

Speak first, speak frequently

If I was talking to my old self doing that job I would be saying it is time for a change of approach. The world moves fast. Increasingly fast. Continue reading

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On the eve of a reputational challenge

When I am talking about crises I always stress that perceptions are as crucial to your response and communication as that is actually happening. Don’t ignore the views that exist around you when considering what to sa Continue reading

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Leaders, responsibility and a time to act

The leadership of all organisations should consider what they would do in these difficult circumstances. If they get caught up in a crisis will they stay and sort it out or will they make way for someone else in a bid to maintain confidence? Continue reading

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A moment of quiet reflection

My wish from this terrible situation is that organisations and communicators take another look at their crisis communication plans. Continue reading

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Power, responsibility and time to listen

In the last two decades I have worked with people affected by crises and have seen the impact of the media on those affected by terrorist attacks. This report is long overdue and I sincerely hope that it starts a conversation that will lead to change. Continue reading

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When is it over?

A crisis isn’t over when you say it is. The events have to run their course and while you can introduce mitigation and ways to reduce the impact of what has happened there is no magic wand to make things go away. Recovery is not guaranteed to remain. Continue reading

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Hindsight or learning for the future?

It is saddening to hear the response from the Government has been to rely on talking about hindsight and how the situation of the Covid-19 pandemic was ‘unprecedented’ – a word that has been more than overused in the past 18 months. This is an opportunity to start to look at what action was taken and how we can look at improving for the inevitable future crises including pandemics. But the approach has been to try to defend the position and all the actions that were taken. No crisis response is perfect and there is always something to take, change, review and develop form every situation. Continue reading

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When disaster strikes what matters most?

I hope in the coming weeks this is something that the CIPR and PRCA take up to discuss with members. Continue reading

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Posted in Chartered Institute of Public Relations, CIPR, communication, crisis communication, emergency services, police, PR, prca | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

When time stopped

There are some events and crises that are so huge they change life forever. This was one of those moments in time. Continue reading

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Humanity in disaster response: book review and interview with author

“Writing this book has been a learning experience combined with an emotional toll as I have dived into a large number of disasters and scrutinized their aftermath.”
Kjell Brataas Continue reading

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Posted in communication, Covid-19, Crisis book, crisis communication, emergency services, PR, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment