Whether you keep up with the Royal Family’s news or not, the latest story surrounding Princess of Wales Kate Middleton has something to offer – a lesson in crisis communications.
Molly McPherson, an APR-certified crisis management and public relations expert, examines the story in a piece for Forbes, where she chronicles the internet saga about the Princess’ supposed “disappearance”.
For a while now, internet chatter has been swirling about Middleton’s whereabouts. She hadn’t been seen publicly since December, and people were starting to wonder where she was – leading to rumors and conspiracy theories. Eventually, Kensington Palace released a statement saying the Princess was having planned surgery and would be recovering for a few months. But McPherson explains, people didn’t buy it. Not long after, in early March, a tabloid published a grainy photograph of the Princess inside a car, but some have speculated the photo was staged.
Each development in this story has shown, in real time, the delicate balance required in crisis communications, especially when high-profile figures or confidential pieces of information are involved. In the rest of her piece, McPherson explains why silence isn’t the answer, and shares 10 strategies for balancing secrecy and disclosure.
