Crisis Communications for Nonprofits

Sexual misconduct, embezzlements, sudden changes in leadership, defunding programs, loss of accreditation, compensation issues, misuse of philanthropic funds, labor disputes…

Members of the media have spent their entire careers getting ready to interview you.

Doesn’t it make sense to spend just a few minutes learning why the media doesn’t cover your story or issue the way you want? And when they do, why the story doesn’t look or read the way you think it should?

Especially in today’s world of “gotcha” journalism, with tiny, digital cameras capable of sending hi-definition pictures to YouTube and CNN within minutes and reputational challenges amplified exponentially by Facebook and Twitter, “managing the media” is a necessary skill set for educational leaders.

This fast-paced talk by veteran crisis communications and media specialist Bruce Hennes, from Hennes Paynter Communications in Cleveland, Ohio (www.crisiscommunications.com), will focus on a highly-strategic approach to communicating during a wide variety of situations, offering methods for establishing and maintaining “control of the message,” enabling you to move your message forward or mount a defense against a sudden press onslaught.

Takeaways:

• Gain insight into what the media looks for in an interview
• Understand how and why the media’s objectives differ from the interviewee’s
• Understand how to better and more-effectively communicate to protect the organization’s image, brand and perception in the marketplace