media crisis management
TRANSCRIPT
Media Crisis Management13 July 2006
Media Crisis Management13 July 2006
David EngelJennifer McDermott
Addleshaw Goddard
Tari Hibbitt
Mark Hutcheon
Reputation Inc
Why does your business need media crisis advice?
�Reputation for honesty, quality and safety is invaluable
�Adverse media attention can destroy overnight
� Increasing risk given speed, globalisation and
insatiable media appetite
– Be prepared to act fast
Seven Pillars of WisdomYou can win a case and still lose the battle of reputations
� Legal and communications advice hand-in-hand
– not in separate silos
� Get advice as early as possible
– don’t wait until the press have called
� Get the response team together
– short lines of command, be clear about roles
– decide on the spokesperson (senior, respected)
� Remember who your stakeholders are: to help you through the
crisis, and to be with you after it’s all over
Seven Pillars of Wisdom (contd)
You can win a case and still lose the battle of reputations
� Put the media strategy in place
– Get the facts straight (ask embarrassing questions, tell the truth)
� Get the basics right
– Put the tools in place to deal with the crisis
– Be ready with follow up action once the crisis has subsided
� Remember time is king
– deadlines are very important
– no time for leisurely debate
Before publication or broadcast – working with the media
� Investigation by newspaper or television journalists
�Should you participate?
� “No comment” no good
�What should you say, when and how?
�What can the newspaper or programme maker
lawfully do?
Preventing publication or broadcast?
� Can the newspaper article or broadcast be stopped?
� May obtain injunction to protect confidential/private information
� S12 Human Rights Act 1998
– Public domain
– Public interest
– Industry codes
� Internet dangers
� Very difficult to injunct a libel
� Risk of further adverse publicity – “The story they tried to ban”
When the story breaks
� Internal investigation and obtain external advice
�Press releases and conferences, TV and radio
interviews
�Continually assess crisis shelf life – monitor the
media
�Do not provoke or prolong the crisis!
Legal options
� Defamation and malicious falsehood
� Breach of confidence
� Privacy
� Copyright
� Passing off
� Trade mark infringement
� Theft and conversion
� Trespass and harassment
Alternative remedies
� Complain first to the newspaper or broadcaster
� Complaints to the Press Complaints Commission or Ofcom
– Not an interim “gag”
– Successful or part successful adjudication publicised
– No compensation or costs but relatively quick and cheap
– Regulators tend to err on the side of the media
Be wise before the event
�Appoint crisis management team
�Set up and maintain lines of communication
�Monitor potential trouble spots
�Train and test the team
�Cultivate the media
�External consultants
Media Crisis Management13 July 2006
Media Crisis Management13 July 2006
David EngelJennifer McDermott
Addleshaw Goddard
Tari Hibbitt
Mark Hutcheon
Reputation Inc