How PR pros can handle bad press

Making news for the wrong reasons is never a good thing, but the way you respond can make or break your brand’s reputation. Consider these tactics to maneuver your organization through a fallout.

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Is it because they are bad companies? That depends on whom you ask. Is it because nobody is using their services? No. If anything, it’s the opposite.

These transformational companies have changed how consumers travel, what they choose to drink and how women manage their period (yes, we said it—deal with it). But, even with such accolades, controlling perception and protecting your brand in a world where anyone has the ability to put their opinion and videos online to reach millions is harder than ever.

Related: What We Can Learn From Cheerios’ Potential PR Crisis

As you’ve probably noticed, how a company reacts to bad press can be more important than what the initial mistake/crime/misstep was itself. Since this can happen more often than not and is sometimes out of your control, here are some chronological actionable steps for when your company finds itself in a bad news cycle:

Know what’s being talked about.

Do your research. Anticipate the hard questions you’re going to be asked and how your answers could tie into current events.

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