We will be the source of accurate information for media resources, internal constituents and the public in the event of an emergency. All media inquiries during an emergency are to be directed to University Communications.
During a crisis, we will:
- Designate a secretary who can maintain meeting notes, to-do lists and information files on the ongoing crisis and other items.
- Review and write down known facts—those that can and cannot be released to the public—and determine whether a response is needed or if that response is needed for all of the college’s key audiences.
- Develop several key messages that will be included in all college communications.
- Determine who will act as spokespeople, both a senior leader of the college and someone charged primarily with communications responsibilities. The senior leader will be the public face of the college, while the communicator will run briefings and handle media questions between formal press gatherings.
- Assign responsibilities to the Crisis Communications Team to communicate the facts of the situation and our response to key audiences.
- Update Doane.edu with relevant information in a timely manner.
- Assign communicators, as needed, to handle phone calls, using a script developed from the key messages and facts.
- Develop communications from the president, as appropriate. It may be necessary for the president to communicate to the campus community about the emergency.
- Determine whether a press conference(s) should be held.
- Monitor media and online coverage—assign a member of the media relations team monitor and anticipate any problems in the way information is flowing to the news media and on the Internet.
- Determine how we should report on the situation for internal audiences. When the crisis has ended, do we need a town hall, a vigil, etc.?