What the Thai cave rescue tells us about crisis media management
Crisis management trainer Jane Jordan takes a look back at one of the biggest media stories of the year and provides some useful learnings for everyone, even if you don’t happen to be stuck in a cave.
Let’s talk about caves!
Well, not caves specifically, but what the amazing rescue of the Thai soccer team and their coach means in crisis management terms. More specifically, managing the media when the eyes of the world are on you, your brand and your reputation.
First things first. I’m in awe of the rescue attempt, which appears to be complicated, complex and treacherous. As the ABC reported: “An extraordinary community has sprung up on the sidelines of the cave rescue in northern Thailand.”
Wow – what a special summary, special not in a good way. You’ve covered it based on your listening to the ABC (must stop laughing) while have zero idea of what was actually happening not only on the ground but in Thailand in general, where the government spent most of the time threatening Thai media. Indeed, the washup is likely to included penalties including licensing suspension in Thailand itself – you know, where the cave is, not suburban Australia.
I find it distasteful when people try and news jack highly emotional incidents like this. I think it shows a self-centredness and a lack of general consideration which, ironically, are the two qualities you should never bring to a crisis comms situation. Other than that, generally, those are the four phases but increasingly the time it takes to get to the next phase is compressed, often multiple phases are coincident and blurred. When I first speciliased in crisis comms 3 decades ago, these phases would take days to play out. Then it all started occurring within one news cycle and today even less so. I think these endless Crisis Management 101 pieces on Mumbrella by consultants would be better if they discussed the interplay of social and mainstream.
This article is like a cave.
Cold, full of shit and containing nothing of value.
One star.
Do you notice how these crisis experts all race eachother to comment on things that have passed, but never when things first start? Then they claim to be able to predict how any crisis unfolds according to a ‘narrative’ they write into cherry picked events as if all this was known in advance to them. Maybe one of them will have the integrity to call the next crisis ‘narrative’ out early!
We’re so self-obsessed.
I doubt the rescue divers were paying much attention to what was being said on Twitter or in Australia.
How unfortunate Jane Jordan makes reference to Stanford University in the context of 9/11. Only this week it was revealed that Stanford is teaching a “narrative” that 9/11 was solely and exclusively motivated by retribution against the USA for its Middle East foreign policies. The perpetrator, Osama Bin Laden himself, gave a clear religious explanation of purpose for the attack – it’s available on video if you want it – but apparently that doesn’t fit comfortably with Stanford University’s “narrative”. Zero credibility.
I find this crass, anyone who would leap on the bandwagon of this just to do a little marketing for their brand – you have to question the judgement. Ms Jordan is partly to blame; but Mumbrella made the editorial decision to run the opinion piece and have to shoulder some of the responsibility. Please stop and consider very carefully when you commit words to Microsoft Office in future.