The BP Gulf Oil Spill – What Would You Have Done Differently?

Brown Bag Teleconference Idea Swap - Recorded September 24, 2010

Join members of the PRSA Corporate Communications Section for this free virtual idea swap. During this “brown bag” conference call, we will chat about public relations issues and challenges stemming from BP’s handling of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The intent of this call is not to criticize or place blame; rather, we will share ideas about what we as communications professionals might have done (or tried to do) differently to respond to the oil spill and its impacts on the Gulf Coast and its citizens.

Participants had the opportunity to discuss such questions as:

• Given some of the very damaging public gaffes, particularly by former CEO Tony Hayward, what are the lessons learned for PR professionals when it comes to executive communications (i.e. managing the CEO) during a crisis?
• Has the BP oil spill changed how you view crisis communications at your company?
• What place is the PR team given in managing crisis communications versus, for instance, the legal team?

Moderator

Chuck Jones, APR, principal, Chuck Jones Communications, is chair of PRSA’s Corporate Communications Professional Interest Section. Chuck’s career has been a unique blend of more than 30 years of consulting, corporate communications, public relations agency and news media experience. He has served as a corporate spokesperson during a variety of high-profile crises, contending with ongoing and extensive media exposure and public outrage. As a journalist, he also was responsible for generating media exposure and, occasionally, public outrage.