CIPR’s CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK, ONE YEAR ON

Last autumn I was lucky enough to be able to set up a Crisis Communications Network for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), and I now chair this group with the wonderful Chris Tucker. If nothing else the pandemic has shown us all the importance of preparing for crisis and how importance good, effective communication is for building resilience.

Our first year has been amazing. We’ve put on a series of interesting and innovative events with some great speakers, and we are proud to have more than 250 members. We’ve also set up our own CIPR Crisis Communications Network website where you can find out much more about who we are and what we do.

Our goal is to share best practice and promote excellence in crisis communications.  We will spread and explore lessons from crisis case studies, past and present, whilst at the same time we will bring the latest academic and real-world thinking in crisis communications and reputation risk to a wider audience of PR professionals.

WHO ARE WE?

The Crisis Communications Network is an open and inclusive forum where CIPR members from across the globe can come together to learn about and share best practice in crisis communications.  Our aim is to spread and explore lessons from crisis case studies, past and present. At the same time, we will bring the latest academic and real-world thinking in crisis communications and reputation risk to a wider audience of PR professionals.

Now just over a year in, we have put on a range of cutting edge and well attended events and can also boast 385 members.

Our website will give you more information about who we are and what’s on next. We also publish regular blogs on topics of interest.

OUR MISSION IS TO:

• Champion excellence in crisis communications

• Hold regular events to promote an understanding of best practice in crisis communications

• Provide practical, useful and relevant services to CIPR members working in the fields of crisis communications and reputation risk

• Develop and provide access to tools and training in the field where appropriate

• Support and promote professional standards and ethical behaviour

WHY ARE WE NEEDED?

One of the outcomes of Covid-19 is that businesses across the UK have been exposed to crisis in a way that they may not have been before, and boards up and down the country have now grasped the value that excellent crisis communications can bring.

The pandemic has also highlighted to organisations the value and importance of investing in crisis preparedness and risk management well before any crisis actually hits as such, these subjects have risen up the agenda of many more boards and senior leadership teams. 

Consequently, crisis management and crisis communications have become a mainstream discipline for many PR professionals, many of whom had limited or no experience of the subject before.   

Our group has great hopes for the future. Eventually we would like to become the primary forum for all crisis communications professionals in the UK.  However, for the time being, our mission is to champion excellence and share best practice in crisis communications.

We aim to build a community of PR professionals who want to better understand, and keep abreast of, developments in crisis communications.  We aim to expose our members to real world examples and the latest academic thinking in crisis management, and also to support them on their journey towards lifelong learning.  We also intend to put on regular events, geared to challenge and inform, and to disseminate information via social media. In the longer term we may look to provide guides and toolkits to members and others. We would also like to promote deeper understanding of the value of crisis communications to a wider public.  And of course, as part of the CIPR, we aim to support the organisation on its own journey over the coming years.

OUR VALUES ARE IMPORTANT TO US AND WE LIVE THEM IN ALL THAT WE DO. THESE ARE:

• Inclusion: we encourage and make welcome a diverse and inclusive membership from all areas of the CIPR

• Integrity: we uphold the highest standards in the way we operate

• Fellowship: we respect and support fellow members, listen to everyone’s views and treat everyone fairly

• Improvement and Innovation: we strive for excellence and are always learning

• Partnership: we work as a team, communicate effectively and build strong and effective relationships

If you’re interested in crisis communications, you are very welcome to join us.