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5WPR News · Published March 13, 2020

Robert Ford
Managing Partner & EVP, Corporate Communications

Crisis Communications for Coronavirus / COVID-19

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For almost every organization dealing with a pandemic such as coronavirus its uncharted territory.  Many of our clients have already reached out for assistance in navigating internal and external communication strategies both in preparation for potential COVID impact, or in response to an incident.

A general principle when dealing with a matter of public health and safety is to be proactive.  You never want a situation where potential harm could have been avoided, if only we had been more proactive and forthcoming with what you knew.  Anyone right now will understand and accept an employee that could be potentially be infected with the virus, and that might have come into contact with others.  What the public will not accept is if you knew this information and did not share it, or if you weren’t fully prepared.

With that in mind, we wanted to offer some best practices and considerations.

Crisis Communications Plan

  • Develop relevant internal & external messaging pre-crisis and templates for post-crisis
  • Identify your crisis team's assignments and roles
  • Compile a list of key team member contacts
  • Perform a media audit and update the contact list
  • Decide on a preferred vendor list
  • Outline a digital communications plan comprehensive of best practices and guidelines

Crisis PR Team Internal Process needed for:

  • Engaging Media during Crisis
  • Staff Responsibilities in a Crisis
  • Internal Protocol
  • Crisis Team and Communication Channels

For more information on 5WPR’s crisis communications services contact us at info@5wpr.com

Robert Ford

Written by

Robert Ford

Rob Ford is a Managing Partner and Executive Vice President at 5W where he leads the Corporate Communications division as well as the Crisis Communications practice and helps direct the core operations of the firm day-to-day. Rob leads a team serving clients across real estate, financial services, fintech, enterprise technology, AI, legal services, health care, and defense tech - bringing senior-level strategic thinking and hands-on campaign leadership to every engagement. At 5W, Rob shapes the firm's strategic direction across multiple dimensions: reimagining service offerings, driving AI-enablement, defining company culture and guiding principles, and sharpening the firm's digital communications and marketing. He is the architect of 5W's crisis preparedness framework and a trusted advisor to C-suite leaders on crisis readiness, response strategy, and executive media training. Rob is a crisis strategist and brand protection leader who helps high-growth and established companies navigate their most critical moments - from ransomware attacks and data breaches to government investigations, high-stakes litigation, and activist investor proxy fights. His expertise is built on a foundation that spans corporate communications, public affairs, and advocacy with experience shaping public opinion at both the local and national levels for Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, and nonprofits across industries including telecom, agriculture, biotech, retail, and defense. Rob has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Delaware.

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  • covid-19

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