Sefiani Communciations and SR7 form crisis comms and risk management offering
Sefiani Communications Group and social media analysis firm SR7 have paired up to offer clients a combined crisis communications and risk mitigation service across both online and traditional media platforms.
The announcement:
May 25, 2011 –
In what is believed to be an Australian first, leading public relations and issues management firm Sefiani Communications Group and social media intelligence and analysis firm SR7 have formed a strategic alliance to offer clients an end-to-end issues management, crisis communications and risk mitigation service spanning both online and traditional media environments.
The alliance coincides with heightened awareness among business and Governments of the risks they face from increased activity on social media forums, and the related spread of information and misinformation online.
A recent report from global risk management firm Aon highlighted ‘brand and image’ as the greatest concern for Australasian business leaders, with social media identified as a key contributor to risk.
Ms Robyn Sefiani, Managing Director of Sefiani Communications Group, said: “Social media has changed the dynamics behind how rapidly and where news breaks. Now, more than ever, the pressure is on corporate leaders and their communications advisers to be able to respond swiftly and effectively when a crisis occurs, through both online and traditional media channels.
“In alliance with SR7, we are in a unique position to provide clients with a comprehensive risk mitigation and issues and crisis management service, to protect their brand and corporate reputation in the dynamic online environment.
“If they haven’t already, organisations need to factor in the mitigation of reputation risk from unwanted exposure into their overall risk management budgets,” Ms Sefiani said.
Mr Peter Fraser, Partner at SR7, said: “Social media intelligence, monitoring and analysis is a key component in real-time issues alerts and risk mitigation. However, it’s equally important for organisations to be prepared to effectively manage issues and crisis situations when they occur. Sefiani’s specialist communications expertise in crisis preparedness and issues and crisis management is a natural and complementary offering to our own business.”
Recent international emergencies such as the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill, unfounded online reports about a Qantas accident, and the unfolding Facebook smear campaign over Google’s activities in the US, have revealed the importance of a thorough crisis response plan to mitigate reputation risk arising from unchecked social media “chatter” following a major incident.
Similarly, while many organisations have embraced social media forums as an effective and dynamic channel for engaging with stakeholders, many are unaware of the risks associated with social media.
SR7 specialises in identifying and managing reputation risk in digital media environments and counsels businesses, government and institutions on successful social media engagement.
Sefiani provides issues and crisis communications counsel as part of its suite of communications services, and has advised clients in a number of high-profile crisis situations. The firm’s service offering includes crisis preparedness training modules.
Source: Sefiani press release
