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Not all press is good press. Pinkston’s experienced crisis communicators help you prepare for and navigate complex challenges.

Crisis Communications
Crisis Communications

Crisis Communications

Clear Thinking When You Need It Most.

Not all press is good press. Pinkston’s experienced crisis management team helps you prepare for and navigate complex reputational threats. We develop robust crisis management plans, informed by real-world examples, so that you have a plan if a crisis arises, on-site or online.  We also provide an honest, outside perspective to ensure your team weathers the storm and avoids losing control of the narrative or making the situation worse

INTRODUCTION

Crisis Communications Solutions

Crisis War RoomAn experienced outside perspective to assess active reputational threats and ensure you avoid the most common crisis mistakes: under-responding and losing control, or over-responding and making the situation worse. Crisis Action Plan and Messaging FrameworkPreparing for communications crises is the best way to minimize risk and fallout. This includes advanced planning for both strategy and messaging. Working through questions of posture, process and identity ahead of time allows organizations to respond promptly and carefully. Interview PreparationEquip your spokespeople to conduct effective, message-driven interviews when the stakes are high. Pinkston’s media training combines classroom-style instruction and realistic mock interviews. Statement WritingDuring a crisis, the initial statement often sets the tone for everything moving forward. Crafting clear, concise, and empathetic statements is critical to maintaining trust and mitigating damage. Pinkston’s team rapidly drafts tailored statements as well as pre-written templates for various potential crisis scenarios. We also provide guidance on dissemination across channels to ensure the right messages reach the right audiences at the right time. Crisis Assessment and Tabletop ExercisesData breaches. Workplace violence. Accusations of moral failure. Leadership transitions. It’s critical to know what threats you face so you are prepared before a crisis breaks. Pinkston’s experienced team will assess your vulnerabilities and simulate a realistic crisis scenario to pressure test your leadership team’s readiness, should a crisis unfold.

Industry Experience

Data BreachPinkston managed the communications campaign for the high-profile launch of an identity-monitoring and theft-recovery program in response to one of the largest data breaches in U.S. history. Program included comprehensive crisis-response planning, coverage monitoring and analysis, and media outreach and management.
Accusation / Investigation of MisconductIn a case involving accusations of bullying against a top leader, Pinkston came alongside the organization’s external legal counsel to provide communications support around its third-party investigation. We helped the organization communicate with staff and media audiences to highlight the steps the board was taking to thoroughly investigate the accusation, explain the scope, and communicate about its findings and the resulting actions the board took to improve workplace culture.
LitigationA crisis involving litigation creates unique communications challenges. In one recent case, Pinkston came alongside a university and its legal counsel as they anticipated a wrongful termination lawsuit by a former faculty member. Engaging early and coordinating closely with the legal team allowed us to prepare messaging and a strategy ahead of time. When the lawsuit was finally filed the university was able to communicate clearly and effectively with faculty, staff and other stakeholders without creating new legal risks.
Leadership TransitionThe board of a major nonprofit enlisted Pinkston to provide communications during a turbulent leadership transition that saw multiple interim CEOs over a short time frame. Pinkston developed messaging and an internal communications plan that restored trust in the board and helped reassure staff while the board conducted its search for a permanent CEO. In spite of significant changes at the top of the organization, there was minimal turnover at the staff level and no negative media coverage.

Crisis Communications Leadership

partner, Public Relations

Sean McCabe

Senior Vice President

D.J. Jordan

Vice President

Zach Crenshaw

Ready to help.

Pinkston’s crisis response team is standing by to support your crisis assessment, planning, management, and response efforts. Contact us today to learn more.

What’s the worst thing you can say in response to tough media questions?

Nothing.

It’s as bad, if not worse, than “no comment.” Both are interpreted as “I’m guilty.”

The mayor of Los Angeles, facing perhaps the biggest crisis of her career, learned that lesson the hard way recently. This deer-in-the-headlights viral video from Sky News shows what can happen when a leader is unprepared to communicate effectively during a crisis.

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