Preparing for Crisis: An Interview with KSU’s Dr. Barbara Gainey

KENNESAW, Ga. (Feb 26, 2015) — By SAUPO Staff Writer Patricia Chourio

According to the Institute for Public Relations, a crisis is a significant threat to public safety, financial loss, and reputation that can produce negative consequences if not handled properly. It doesn’t matter if the threat is generated by a man-made incident or a natural disaster, if it is a one-time or ongoing event, or if it emanates from a single or multiple sources. What matters is how it is planned for, managed, and communicated.

In response to this critical organizational need, the 2015 SAUPO will present an afternoon panel entitled, “Crisis Communication Management.” We sat down with the program moderator Dr. Barbara Gainey, Chair and Associate Professor of the Communication Department at Kennesaw State University (KSU), to learn more about the upcoming session.

The idea to incorporate a crisis communication panel in the SAUPO agenda was conceived by Dr. Gainey and Dr. May Gao, Professor of Communication and SAUPO Chair, after they attended a KSU communication colloquium during which public relations leaders shared their crisis experience and perspectives. Recognizing the value of such information, they recruited four professionals to educate this year’s conference attendees about this specialized communication function.

Panelists will include: Dr. Barbara Reynolds, Director, Division of Public Affairs, CDC; Kenji Tateiwa, Manager, Nuclear Power Programs, Tokyo Electric Power Company; Lee Echols, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Northside Hospital; and Russ Williams, Senior Vice President, Cohn & Wolfe. They will speak about crisis communication from a global perspective, sharing insights and challenges from fields ranging from healthcare to nuclear power.

“Few crises are or remain truly localized in our global society,” said Dr. Gainey. “Technology, 24/7 news cycles, and citizen journalism drive today’s crises to overlap boundaries. This dynamic speaks to the need for crisis communication preparedness that our SAUPO panelists will address.”

When asked about how to prepare for a crisis, Dr. Gainey replied, “It’s crucial to have a strategic crisis management and communication program that considers an organization’s strengths and risks.” She also emphasized the importance of having global competencies, as well as awareness of the cultural and ethical implications of issues.

Reflecting on her past experience attending SAUPO, Dr. Gainey was impressed by the relevance of the conference topics and the many opportunities for attendees to network with business, government, and education leaders from around the world. “I hope everyone seizes the chance to make meaningful connections,” said Dr. Gainey. She specifically encouraged students to attend with an “entrepreneurial mindset” and to identify what they can take away from the experience.

The 2015 SAUPO event will be held on April 17 at the St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.kennesaw.edu/saupo or follow the organization on Twitter @SAUPO_ or Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/SAUPO/723940397713986.