Into the crisis vortex: Managing and communicating issues, risks and crises

Abstract

This article provides a discussion of the growing importance of crisis communications in communications management practice. Using celebrated examples to set the scene, such as the BP oil spill, Toyota, SARS and the Japanese tsunami, the author describes how crisis communications can be a factor in making organizations more cost effective given the high reputational and legal cost of crises. The author also discuss- es the distinction between tactics and strategy and how the crisis communications research agenda must move to focus more specifically on crisis preparedness and management