An unbelievable and horrific day at Virginia Tech University.
This tragedy in which at least 33 people were fatally shot again reaffirms the need for a solid crisis communication plan and it highlights how important the web is in that plan.
University relations officials used the university website to update the campus community and hundreds of concerned parents and others about the unfolding events. Though the website was down for part of the day, several updates were posted on the site, including a text and audio message from President Charles Steger.
In reading the news reports, some students expressed anger over the delay in communication between the first shooting and the second shooting, saying a broader and more timely message should have been sent to campus, expressing a greater sense of urgency.
It's difficult to even begin trying to understand what the campus community was going through at the time and what the university administrators were up against.
But it's a lesson for everyone involved in communications and in website management at any kind of workplace. Be prepared, and be transparent.
Our thoughts and prayers to everyone at Virginia Tech and their families and friends.
Comments (5)
"Though the website was down for part of the day, several updates were posted on the site, including a text and audio message from President Charles Steger."
Underscores the importance of having a dark site maintained and available.
michael clendenin
Posted by Michael Clendenin | April 17, 2007 12:47 PM
Posted on April 17, 2007 12:47
Tim,
I see that Gerard Braud is teaming with Ragan to offer a crisis communications webinar on May 3. Gerard discussed this issue with me on my CommaKazi Speek podcast, which may interest you and your readers. The link to the podcast is: http://commakazi2.libsyn.com/
Tom Keefe
(PS--I think I finally understand why David Murray continues to call me Tom O'Keefe--he must be thinking of you!)
Posted by Tom Keefe | April 19, 2007 2:59 PM
Posted on April 19, 2007 14:59
Tom,
Thanks for the link, I need to give it a listen. It seems that it is easy to confuse us Irish folks!
Posted by Tim | April 25, 2007 8:14 PM
Posted on April 25, 2007 20:14
The Webinar went well today. There were lots of really great questions.
1) If you missed the webinar, the fine folks at Ragan can hook you up with a copy of the CD. I tried to give everyone information that they can share with their executives to get buy-in for a plan. I also tried to point the way for folks on how to identify if their plan will work or not.
2) I know people are looking for crisis communications resources, so I posted a bunch of free resources at this site:
http://www.schoolcrisisplan.com/index.html
Posted by Gerard Braud | May 3, 2007 11:36 PM
Posted on May 3, 2007 23:36
We're a month out now from the tragic shootings. The biggest learning that I have from the event is that many organizations have a document called a "Crisis Communications Plan," but the document isn't worth the paper it is written on. VT has such a document, but it failed them and their student body.
If you think you have a plan, take a hard look at it. If it doesn't guarantee you that communications will happen within the first hour of the crisis, you are positioning yourself for failure.
Ragan has just asked me to host a virtual webinar on the topic this June. Watch the site for registration details.
Until then, visit the site I listed in my previous posting for rules and details.
I've also prepared a white paper that you can give to your leaders. For a free copy, send an e-mail to me at gerard@braudcommunications.com
Gerard Braud
www.braudcommunications.com
Posted by Gerard Braud | May 16, 2007 7:44 AM
Posted on May 16, 2007 07:44