View source for Crisis Communications Guidance for Planning and Preparation

== Form a [[Crisis Communication|crisis communications]] team. ==

* Designate a team leader and assign responsibilities to team members.

== Develop a [[Crisis Communication|crisis communications]] protocol. ==

* Who decides when a [[Crisis| crisis]] exists, what are each team member’s responsibilities?
* Who speaks to the media/public on what subjects and at whose direction?

== Develop and maintain lists. ==

* Primary contacts/experts for key offices and issue areas.
* Secondary contacts/experts for key offices and issue areas.
* [[Media Kit|Media lists]].
** A media list is a list of print, broadcast, and electronic media that will allow your communications team to identify every possible national, regional, and local outlet and analyze its potential value for reaching your [[Target Audience|target audiences]].

== Consider logistics. ==

* Where would a [[Press Briefing|press briefing]] be held? Is it easily accessible? Is the room large enough?
* Will it accommodate media needs for sound quality and sufficient power? Will speakers need chairs, tables, or podiums?

== Identify information needs and develop appropriate [[Fact Sheet|fact sheets]] and background materials. ==

* Hundreds of questions—some good, some trivial, some odd—emerge when a news story is breaking.
* The more questions that can be anticipated and answered ahead of time in a fact sheet the better. 
* This is especially true for information regarding high visibility issues such as might occur in an event. 
* Readily available information on these issues will help keep misinformation to a minimum.