crisis management and Third sector

The phrase "crisis and issues management" used to give me assumptions that a public relations practitioner would need to come up with plans to save the image of a corporation when in trouble. However, this week's readings taught me that crisis and issues management certainly requires more planning than just that. Crisis management requires the public relations practitioner to look months or years ahead to predict what can go wrong with an organisation to cause damage to its reputation be it through product tampering, a takeover bid, disasters, industrial disputes, or changes in leadership. Once the public relations practitioner is able to predict such situations, plans need to be made before any problems occur. Thus, once any of these predictions come true, the public relations practitioner can immediately rectify the problem with the plans made much earlier.

The readings have certainly showed that in practice as a public relations practitioner, one needs to be able to pre-empt what may happen, remain alert and be ready to step in to help when the corporation is in trouble.

Also, this week's readings touched on Public relations in the Third Sector. It shows how public relations play a part in creating a solid reputation over time. With the Third Sector being an important part of society, it is important for public relations to start building rapport with citizens.