The Public Relations Blog

In this episode, Mark Basch joins host Jason Mudd to discuss the common media mistakes publicly traded companies make.

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Recently, I was interviewed by a leading enterprise technology publication about the lessons corporate leaders can learn from the AWS outage. The conversation revealed something every brand — not just cloud providers — should take seriously: Crisis communication is as critical as technical resilience.

1. Cracker Barrel’s new social media lead reflects on “busy” first 60 days
2. Taco Bell leverages celebrity cameos for its new “Crispy Chicken” menu
3. Charlie Kirk’s death exposed gaps in crisis communication plans.
4. 60-second close: Navigating crisis and creativity

AI can speed up monitoring and drafting during a crisis, but it can’t replace empathy. Knowing when to lean on tools and when to rely on people makes all the difference in protecting trust.

When disasters strike, people become overwhelmed. Chaos spreads rapidly. When crises occur in your company, many will turn to leadership for information, solutions, and reassurance. As a leader, you can help minimize damage and restore order by speaking with clarity and authority. 

This is why effective crisis communication can be so impactful. Use these tips to guide stakeholders, employees, and the public through the storm with clear, confident, and consistent messaging.

When a TikTok video allegedly showing a CEO cheating at a Coldplay concert went viral, it wasn’t because of who he was — at least, not at first. The moment exploded because it activated four of the internet’s most powerful engagement triggers: voyeurism, drama, ambiguity, and high stakes.

People couldn’t look away.

A blurry concert video. A kiss cam. A ducked face. And now, a PR nightmare.

What started as a seemingly innocuous moment at a Coldplay concert earlier this week — a couple caught briefly on the Jumbotron awkwardly ducking out of frame — has spiraled into a viral spectacle. Internet sleuths quickly identified the man as the married CEO of a tech company. The woman beside him was not his wife.

Within hours, the video racked up millions of views. By the next morning, memes circulated, TikTok think pieces exploded, and the CEO’s company, Astronomer, found itself facing a serious reputational fallout.

1. Is Tesla experiencing a brand crisis?
2. Chewy's recent content shows the power of thought leadership
3. 60-second close: Set your narrative, or someone else will

1. Delta’s crisis response is a masterclass in crisis communications
2. Media ethics lessons from the Baldoni/Lively case
3. 60-second close: Protecting reputation and trust

What we can learn from Delta’s crisis response strategy

Delta Air Lines recently made headlines for offering $30,000 to each passenger aboard the plane that flipped on a runway in Toronto on Monday. While this immediate payout was swift and decisive, the move raises questions about whether financial compensation alone is enough in crisis communications.