Develops strategies for managing organizational reputation during emergencies and public controversies.
About this course
Crisis Communication Planning teaches you how to protect and restore an organization's reputation when things go wrong. You will learn to develop strategies for managing communication during emergencies, natural disasters, product failures, and public controversies. The course focuses on speed, accuracy, and empathy in every message.
You will work through real-world case studies and participate in high-pressure simulation exercises. These drills help you practice delivering holding statements, conducting mock press conferences, and coordinating with internal teams under time constraints. By the end of the term, you will have a professional crisis communication plan ready for your portfolio.
Who takes this course
This course is an elective for students in the Public Relations & Communications program. It is also open to students in other Marketing & Communication streams who wish to specialize in reputation management.
Credits: 3 · Hours: 45
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
- Identify early warning signs of potential crises in social and traditional media.
- Draft holding statements and key messages for diverse stakeholder groups.
- Design a crisis communication plan tailored to specific organizational risks.
- Conduct simulated press conferences and media interview drills.
- Evaluate post-crisis reputation recovery strategies and metrics.
Evaluation
| Component | Weight (%) |
| Crisis Communication Plan | 35 |
| Simulated Press Conference | 25 |
| Mid-term Case Study Analysis | 20 |
| Final Exam | 20 |