|
Just a Thought
|
Failure to heed crisis warning signs is an indicator of arrogance, complacence, or both.
-- Jonathan Bernstein
|
From the Editor
Speaking of crisis warning signs, just yesterday a new type of hack attack was reported that should come as a big, flashing, neon-red warning to organizations the world over.
In a shift from the sophisticated phishing schemes we've been seeing over the past couple years, hackers from the Syrian Electronic Army were able to attack The Washington Post, Time and CNN through Outbrain, a trusted content recommendation service used by all three.
Essentially, the SEA was able to take control of a plugin belonging to Outbrain, allowing them to publish propaganda and attempt to direct readers to its own web presences via any site using said plugin. The intrusion was swatted down within about thirty minutes this time, but imagine the consequences this type of attack could have...
A huge number of major websites embed software from partners they trust, most notably advertisers and content providers, but also third-party shopping carts, credit card processing, and oh-so-many more. That's just the commercial aspect of the danger, though. When you start to think of the scarily high number of subcontractors that have access to government systems like water, power and traffic regulation, you begin to see the tip of the massive iceberg that's being uncovered.
The number of crises related to hacking and other cyber-crime will continue to climb, and it's only matter of time until we see pay-to-hack systems being shopped on the black market (if they aren't already), and disruptions to major government services created by enemy nations or terrorist groups.
Considering the damage skilled hackers have already proven they can do to even well-prepared organizations, those sitting back with an "it can't happen to me" attitude are going to be blown out of the e-waters when they're eventually hit.
If you like what you see in this ezine, please pass it on to others by using the "Forward Email" link at the bottom of the ezine and tell them to subscribe!
(Note: If you just "Forward" using your own email program's "Forward" function and your recipient thinks they're being spammed, they can click on the Opt Out link and opt YOU off the list. So use the "Forward Email" link, please.)
Thank you, and read on. |
Interested in repurposing BCM articles
or blog posts?
|
Would you like to share a post with your audience, reprint one of BCM's how-to's for office use, or take students through a set of case studies?
We're happy to give permission for material to be repurposed in just about any way you'd like. Simply submit a request to [email protected].
|
Attn: Gmail web mail users
| |
Gmail has rolled out a new inbox for its web-based email users that divides content into various tabs. You've (hopefully!) found our newsletter under your GMail "Promotions" tab, but if you would like to it to go to your "Primary" inbox next time, just drag and drop the email there, or click the star next to it, and you're all set.
|
Blogs!
By Erik Bernstein
| |
An absolutely outrageous story unfolded as an Ohio Bank Ignored Crisis Management Basics, even after accidentally repossessing (and selling the contents of) the wrong house! Many organizations are learning the hard way that you need to do your homework before launching a social media blitz. Panera Needs Social Media Crisis Management after Campaign Backfires is a case study of the popular-fast casual restaurant's recent Twitter marketing #fail. Here's an important question -- Do Your Crisis Management Plans Include Loss of GPS? This heavily-used technology is frighteningly easy to disrupt, making planning for the possibility a must! We take some reputation management advice straight from the esteemed philosopher Socrates in Crisis Management Quotables...on Actions Speaking Loudest. The crisis management nightmare surrounding Anthony Weiner's mayoral bid continued as Weiner's Comms Director Curses Her Boss' Cursed Campaign. Dropping bombs like "bitch" and "slutbag" mid-interview in reference to an ex-intern immediately put Weiner's camp in the news in a negative light, AGAIN. Accidental Copyright Infringement - Easy, and Expensive! A massive push to put out more and more content is spreading through the business world, but many don't realize they could be sued for using material they believed to be public domain. If you don't think your PR or marketing campaigns could benefit from bit of crisis prevention planning, Reddit Black Hat Marketing Tactics Exposed will change your mind. Allies can be a wonderful asset when you encounter a crisis, but you don't assemble a host of advocates overnight. Facing scrutiny in D.C. and legal battles aplenty, Apple is learning the hard way that Arrogance and Crisis Management Don't Mix. She may have been found innocent on a technicality, but that doesn't make Paula Deen's TV career is any less over. Proving that being convicted in the court of public opinion is enough to sink anyone's ship, there will be No Respite for Deen's Reputation after Racism Case Dismissed. Erik Bernstein is a freelance writer, editor of Crisis Manager, Social Media Manager for Bernstein Crisis Management, and self-pronounced one-man-band at Bernstein Social Media.
|
| Apropos of Nothing |
Social Media Training
Want to get your feet wet with social media but don't know where to start? Maybe you have accounts, but aren't sure what to post, or how to reply?
Being active on social media is a must these days, but you have to do it right. Erik Bernstein, Bernstein Crisis Management's Social Media Manager, now offers social media training sessions in person or via Skype for groups and individuals.
For questions or pricing info, please email [email protected]
Bernsteins Available to Deliver Free Guest Lectures, Q&A Sessions
Jonathan alone, or the team of Jonathan and Erik Bernstein, are available at no charge to deliver guest lectures and host Q&A sessions with college classes via Skype or Google Hangout. Our latest presentation was to a graduate-level Healthcare Marketing course at Cal State Long Beach.
The lectures are fun for both us and students, and we're more than happy to allow recording for your future use. All you need at your end is a single computer with webcam and a strong broadband connection for us to appear in your classroom in real-time.
Contact us for more info!
Attention Corporate Boards of Directors (and those who serve them).
If you're connected with a corporate board of directors in some way and think that board would benefit from having a veteran crisis management pro amongst its membership, please contact me. -- Jonathan
|
Business Announcements
(aka blatant self-promotion) Expanded Crisis Manager Bookstore We've recently expanded the Crisis Manager Bookstore to include offerings from esteemed colleagues like Melissa Agnes, Gerald Baron, Chris Syme and Jim Lukaszewski that cover topics from crisis communication and traditional PR to social media and cutting-edge crisis management. We'll be adding other authors we admire in the weeks ahead.
Visit the new Crisis Manager Bookstore to see all of the material available now!
Keeping the Wolves at Bay: Media Training  Learn how to deal with traditional or social media during a crisis in this educational and entertaining guide from Crisis Manager publisher Jonathan Bernstein. $25 for the hard copy and $10 for the PDF. Head to the Crisis Manager Bookstore for more information and/or to purchase.
Manager's Guide to Crisis Management
Whether you're a seasoned manager, aspiring up-and-comer, or student of crisis management, Jonathan Bernstein's textbook, Manager's Guide to Crisis Management (McGraw-Hill, 2011) will put you in control of any situation.
Looking for a Turn-Key Social Media Solution? Missing out on all the promotional, SEO and reputation management advantages of being active on social media platforms? Hire someone to be your voice...like Erik Bernstein, editor of Crisis Manager. He's the one largely responsible for keeping the Bernstein Crisis Management website and social media accounts highly ranked and popular and can do the same for you, while creating a set of valuable social presences that can be turned over to your full control at any time More info:[email protected]. |
Guest AuthorsGuest authors are very welcome to submit material for "Crisis Manager." There is no fee paid, but most guest authors have reported receiving business inquiries as a result of appearing in this publication. Case histories, experience-based lessons, commentary on current news events and editorial opinion are all eligible for consideration. Submission is not a guarantee of acceptance. |
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: [email protected]. Erik Bernstein is editor of Crisis Manager and is also Social Media Manager for Bernstein Crisis Management, Inc. Write to Erik at: [email protected]. |
|
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. |
|
|
|
