Blog articles in German are available here.


COVID-19 and airlines
How safe is safe enough?

20 June 2020

Communicatig Travel Safety in Times of COVID-19: Six Points to Consider

COVID-19 has sent airlines to incentive care all over the world. Now it is time to get out of the sick bay and passengers back on board. But how should airlines address their customers' worries regarding health and travel safety? Avoid over-reassurance and beware of the "anzen shinwa".


cornavirus, COVID-19, risk
Black swan or grey rhino?

13 March 2020

Grey Rhinos in Black Plumage - Why COVID-19 isn't a Black Swan

The discussion about COVID-19 and the risk of such outbreaks has gone to the swans, the black ones. Black swans are singular, highly unlikely events you are not prepared for. Especially at the stock markets around the world, the poor animal is blamed for the coronavirus to do so much damage. But a pandemic like the current is far from being an unexpected black swan. It is a grey rhino.


(c) Crisis Response Journal
(c) Crisis Response Journal

15 May 2019

Deciding Will be Decisive: Crisis Communication on the Edge of Tomorrow

This article written for the Crisis Response Journal highlights how the revolutionary change of the media landscape forces crisis communicators to shift from a mainly procedure focused preparedness to a more holistic approach. Decision-making skills will be key to repond to less and less predictable challenges.


Virtual Bombs: The Weaponaization of Social Media
(c) Patrick Meschenmoser

02 March 2019

Virtual Bombs: The Weaponization of Social Media

The latest escalation in the conflict between India and Pakistan shed light on a phenomenon that has been overlooked by many for years: How social media are turned into powerful weapons of mass disruption. Terrorists have actually already killed just by using these virtual weapons. Are we prepared to respond?


(c) Patrick Meschenmoser
(c) Patrick Meschenmoser

9 November 2018

"Speed vs. Accuracy" Or "Why Informing and Messaging is not the Same"

The major conflict communicators have to manage in the early stages of a crisis is the demand for almost instant communication vs. the lack of confirmed information. Read how you can solve that conflict.


Credit: Greg Webb / IAEA
Credit: Greg Webb / IAEA

20 February 2018

Beyond Design-Basis Crisis (Communication)

Whatever risk you are able to think of, is a risk worth to be considered. Why it is important to face your real worst case scenario when you prepare your crisis communication arrangements.

 


Magnus Häggström/Flickr
Magnus Häggström/Flickr

26 October 2014

Military Crisis Communications: It's Credibility, Sailor!

Unidentified submergible objects in Swedish waters! It's a tough job to transparently communicate a story that is top secret. But in times of crowd-sourced 24/7 surveillance by social media users, it's a bad idea to lie. If you can't speak, just say so, or get caught in the act.


(c) Patrick Meschenmoser
(c) Patrick Meschenmoser

18 June 2014

Social Media Firestorms: Don't be scared by the Hype!
A firestorm ignored might be a crisis ignited. No reason to be scared. Read why firestorms are often hyped up too much and how you can tackle them.


(c) Patrick Meschenmoser
(c) Patrick Meschenmoser

23 March 2014

MH370: Time to criticize Malaysia Airlines crisis communication? No!

It has become a standard operating procedure to criticize the airline for its crisis communication in the aftermath of an aviation disaster. Read why this is unfair in case of MH370 and what a crisis of this scale means to an airline.


(c) Patrick Meschenmoser
(c) Patrick Meschenmoser

03 March 2014

500,000 USD fine for Asiana Airlines and a lesson learned: Take care of family and friends!

An emergency plan is never enough. Without committing enough resources to carry it out once the alarm bells ring, it remains just a piece of paper. Read  why taking care of victims' families and friends matters and what the takeaway for other industries is.