Ono the Ostrich CRISIS MANAGER
The Internet Newsletter about Crisis Management
Editor: Erik Bernstein
Publisher: Jonathan Bernstein

"For Those Who Are Crisis Managers,
Whether They Want to be or Not"


ISSN:1528-3836
© 2016 Jonathan Bernstein

Will Your Costume Create a Crisis?


Volume XVII, Number 10

October 31, 2016

Just a Thought
"The way you make people feel is your reputation."

- Eugene Gess Man

From the Editor
A Kim Kardashian robbery costume, the annual "fratboy in blackface", and of course a selection of public figures landing themselves in trouble for showing poor judgement.

Every year Halloween presents the opportunity to be someone else for a night, and every year a number of costumes create outrage. Very few actually intend to upset or offend, with most clearly thinking their getup was being funny or clever. The problem is that - just as we say when it comes to communications - it's not your intent, but rather how the receiver intreprets the output, that creates your shared reality.

This issue will be hitting inboxes early on the 31st, which means you still have time to reconsider your own before heading out into the world (unless your office is dressing up today, in which case quickly evaluate the area for distainful looks from coworkers or a furrowed brow on nearby supervisors).

If you really at a loss for what to go as here's a suggestion - try dressing up as an apology. A white t-shirt, some quick sharpie work, and a cardboard microphone should have you set to celebrate without winding up as a headline Tuesday morning.


- EB

Attention any readers in Israel!
Jonathan Bernstein, our company president, will be visiting Israel from May 1-11, 2017, and always loves the chance to meet "Crisis Manager" readers and other PR colleagues when overseas.

If you'd like to connect with him during the trip, write to jonathan@bernsteincrisismanagement.com.

Interested in reprinting BCM articles or blog posts?
We're happy to give permission for material to be reprinted in hard copy or online!

If you find something you would like to reprint, simply submit a request to jonathan@bernsteincrisismanagement.com.


Blogs
The Bernstein Crisis Management blog, along with our blog at the Free Management Library, are frequently updated and filled with case studies, advice, and the latest news on techniques, threats, and more.

Here, we share a look at some of the most popular posts from recent weeks:
We typically see a few costume-related crises around this time of year, but what was surprising about this one was the source. Moana Costume Blunder Leaves Disney Saying Sorry! looks at a social misstep from the big D.

First smartphones, and now washers are blowing their tops! Samsung Crises Spin out of Control examines yet another Samsung device having serious issues.

In a decision that is predicted to mean some $9.5 BILLION in lost sales alone, Samsung Extinguishes Galaxy Note 7, Permanently. We reviewed the ramification of this decision, and shared our thoughts on whether it was the right move to make.

Repeat crises seemed to be in the air over the past couple weeks. Samsung obviously took first prize there, but in Blue Bell Has 2nd Listeria Scare While on the Rebound we review a scary "Part 2" for the ice cream maker.

Preparing for Inevitable Disaster is essential to mitigating the damage done. You can't prevent natural disasters, but you can be ready!

A guest post from our friend Tony Jaques Policy back-flip or "responding to stakeholders"? gives us a look at crisis communications and the power it has to shape your audience's viewpoint.

Do you have a topic you'd like to see featured in our blogs? Send an email to erik@bernsteincrisismanagement.com and there's a good chance you'll be seeing it right here in the next issue!

Business Announcements
(aka blatant self-promotion)
What if you could quickly find out how your stakeholders perceive you during a breaking crisis?

Bernstein Crisis Management now uses online surveys and other tools to get immediate stakeholder perception feedback, during a breaking crisis, with the option of continuing to monitor perception post-crisis.


Are There Any Holes in Your Crisis Planning?

Your organization may well have crisis prevention and response-related plans in place - but are you sure they're going to cover all the bases? Bernstein Crisis Management's Crisis Document Audit is a low-cost, flat-rate service which will quickly provide you with a comprehensive analysis of your existing plans and recommendations for improvement.
Contact jonathan@bernsteincrisismanagement.com for more information.

We're Giving Away Keeping the Wolves at Bay and other crisis publications!

Several new items have been added to our FREE crisis management library, including Keeping the Wolves at Bay, the widely used media-training manual published by Jonathan Bernstein.

To visit the download page, click here.
Social Media Crisis Training

A solid social media manager has quickly become a must-have for organizations of any size, and can make an immense difference by driving in customers and building your positive reputation online.

The problem is, the vast majority are simply not equipped to even identify building crises, much less take the steps necessary to cope with and mitigate the damage that can result.

That's where we come in.

Bernstein Crisis Management is now offering crisis management training for social media managers, both independent and in-house, as well as social media firms.

For an overview of our services, estimates, or more information, contact erik@bernsteincrisismanagement.com


About Us



Jonathan Bernstein is both publisher of Crisis Manager and president of Bernstein Crisis Management, Inc., a national crisis management public relations agency providing 24/7 access to crisis response professionals. The agency engages in the full spectrum of crisis management services: crisis prevention, response, planning & training. He has been in the public relations field since 1982, following five-year stints in both military intelligence and investigative reporting.

Write to Jonathan at:

Erik Bernstein is vice president of Bernstein Crisis Management, and editor of this newsletter. Working in crisis management since 2009, Erik has watched the internet and social media change the field. Today, he brings that experience to bear assisting clients to protect and grow their reputations using tactics based on real-world knowledge and experience.

Write to Erik at:




Legal Disclaimer (aka the small print)

All information contained herein is obtained by Jonathan Bernstein from sources believed by Jonathan Bernstein to be accurate and reliable.

Because of the possibility of human and mechanical error as well as other factors, neither Jonathan Bernstein nor Bernstein Crisis Management is responsible for any errors or omissions. All information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Bernstein Crisis Management and Jonathan Bernstein make no representations and disclaim all express, implied, and statutory warranties of any kind to the user and/or any third party including, without limitation, warranties as to accuracy, timeliness, completeness, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose.

Unless due to willful tortuous misconduct or gross negligence, Jonathan Bernstein and Bernstein Crisis Management shall have no liability in tort, contract, or otherwise (and as permitted by law, product liability), to the user and/or any third party.

Under no circumstance shall Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein be liable to the user and/or any third party for any lost profits or lost opportunity, indirect, special, consequential, incidental, or punitive damages whatsoever, even if Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

A service of this newsletter is to provide news summaries and/or snippets to readers. In such instances articles and/or snippets will be reprinted as they are received from the originating party or as they are displayed on the originating website or in the original article. As we do not write the news, we merely point readers to it, under no circumstance shall Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein be liable to the user and/or any third party for any lost profits or lost opportunity, indirect, special, consequential, incidental, or punitive damages whatsoever due to the distribution of said news articles or snippets that lead readers to a full article on a news service's website, even if Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Authors of the original news story and their publications shall be exclusively held liable. Any corrections to news stories are not mandatory and shall be printed at the discretion of the list moderator after evaluation on a case-by-case basis.

In This Issue
Just A Thought
Attn Readers in Israel
Featured Blogs
Quick Links

Bernstein Crisis Management, Inc., 700 S. Myrtle Ave, #404, Monrovia, CA 91016
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