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Social Media and Technology for Crisis Communications

The best time to get your strategy in order for a crisis is on a clear sunny day. 

Nineteen people attended the August 13 webinar on using social media in crisis communications. The presenter, Gerard Braud, a New Orleans-based expert in media training and crisis communications, shared best practices and lessons learned during Hurricane Isaac.  He stressed the importance of integrating social media into a crisis communications plan. Braud predicts that on-site interviews will be replaced by the media calling on PR pros to tell the story via Skype or smartphone. He also shared his template for the “first critical statement” to be made during a crisis. 

Braud suggested that everybody do four critical things before the crisis:

1.      Crisis communication plan
2.      Media training
3.      Social media training
4.      Technology training

The webinar was held at the San Antonio Area Foundation offices at the Pearl Brewery.  The next webinar is scheduled for November. 

Contributed by PRSA SA Board Member Gretchen Roufs