Week Six Readings

WEEK SIX READINGS

I believe the key message from the week six reading was the importance of crisis control programs and policies to ensure minimum damage and effective management in times of a crisis. As well as the Crisis Management Preparation, that is what needs to be done to effectively control a crisis for example a responsible and capable crisis management team.

The messages can be applied to my group work through the readings highlighted many things that an organization can do to prepare for a potential crisis, communicate during a crisis, and rebuild relationships with publics after a crisis. My group can take these things into account when writing our PR plan for Toastmasters.

The readings made me think more about public relations in practice as they provided examples of how public relations managers can integrate new communication media into their mix of communication tactics in crisis and risk management. For example using the internet as, it offers organizations the opportunity to communicate their message without media imposed filters. It allows for feedback and gives an organization the opportunity to give their side of a crisis. The reading on Direct Relief International gave a practical example of a crisis management. The organization provides resources to health programs in areas affected by disasters. It made clear how communication structures tend to flatten in a crisis for e.g. Hurricane Katrina.

The reading related to reading I have done in previous weeks as they demonstrated key roles and functions within an organization. However related highlighted the roles and responsibilities in times of crisis such as roles of team leaders, operations and recovery sections of the organization.