QUOTE OF THE DAY “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.” - Helen Keller COVID-19 UPDATE As of Friday morning, Bing’s COVID-19 Tracker reported 83,545 cases in the U.S. and 1,201 deaths. The New York Times has reported at least 85,724 cases in the U.S. and 1,275 deaths. Globally there have been at least 536,100 cases and 24,460 have died. President Trump questioned New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s request of 40,000 ventilators. The $2 trillion relief bill is being debated in the House of Representatives Friday before a final vote. Markets were down again Friday after three days of solid gains on optimism over the proposed stimulus bill making its way through Congress. The chief of the IMF says the world economy is in a recession.
Keep track of the pillars of your crisis response with the mnemonic ‘TACOS.’ Your messages to employees and customers should be transparent, authoritative, consistent and more. Read how to bolster your messages here.
PBS offers takeaways for brand managers and internal comms in the current crisis. Here are some tips for organizing your response teams and protecting your reputation during these extraordinary times. Cleveland Clinic posted this heartwarming message from a patient on its Instagram page, which has been picked up by the mainstream news. Brand managers, don’t underestimate the power of a photo. (Image via) In the current crisis, communicators should focus on community. Here’s how you can think about your outreach in a way that helps the world around you. What sets your CEO’s COVID-19 message apart could be its willingness to show vulnerability. Here’s how some statements have been able to open up about the fears, both financial and otherwise, that business leaders face in the current pandemic. HR should address these five topics during the COVID-19 outbreak. The issues that must be addressed are remote work, leave policy, benefits like health coverage, objectives and goals that were tied to compensation and talent acquisition. Here are ideas on how to keep all your plates spinning. Google allows up to 12 users to connect for group calls on Duo. The company says that group video calls are a priority during the crisis and is taking steps to support users who need more from the tool. If you need more than 12, you will have to register for Google’s enterprise-focused Hangouts Meet service. PR pros in the Fashion sector face a hard pivot to keep serving their clients. The tenor of the PR pitch has to change—and fast. Glossy reported: “Right now, the power is in the pivot,” said Jodi Balkan, president of beauty agency Bold PR. “Working from home doesn’t stop us from getting things done.” How can you know if your COVID-19 message is essential, or clogging the airwaves? Use this adaptation of military models for risk management to set thresholds for when you need speak, and when you can refrain from just piling on. Do more with your Zoom meetings with these secret tips. Want to change your background, react with an emoji on your screen or set default mute options? This guide has you covered how to make more of the popular videoconferencing tool. Virtual Event Alert Check out Ragan’s Crisis Communications Virtual Summit March 31 for a day of virtual sessions that you can share with your entire team, or watch any time on your own schedule. Join our Crisis Leadership Board Ragan’s Crisis Leadership Board is the resource you need before, during and post-crisis. As a Board member, you have access to all back issues of this newsletter, we well as research, data, case studies, checklists, tip sheets, articles and other resources, plus a peer to peer discussion board and an all-access pass to the annual Crisis Management Conference. Sponsorship/Advertising Opportunities Contact Hannah Lavelle at HannahL@ragan.com with sponsorship and advertising inquiries. Pitch Us Have a great story to share about crisis communication or your own take on current best practices? Contact Editor Ted Kitterman at TedK@ragan.com. Sign Up Subscribe to Ragan’s Crisis Daily newsletter today! | 