Crisis Ahead

Volkswagen’s emissions scandal is back in the news. The company has paid billions of dollars to car owners because of rigged emissions equipment and software that gave misleading information about the pollution emitted by diesel engines. Matt Tidwell, who has written a case study about the scandal for a public relations textbook, shares his insights and perspectives about VW’s dieselgate. Tidwell is assistant dean for graduate and professional studies at the University of Kansas.

Trial lawyer and award-winning author Shane Read shares seven courtroom tactics business executives can use to effectively tell their side of the story about a crisis. Read also discusses key lessons from the mistakes Johnson & Johnson made that led to their losing a lawsuit in which 22 women alleged the
company’s baby power caused them to develop ovarian cancer. In his weekly commentary host Edward Segal talks about the recent sudden resignation of Boeing’s senior vice president of communications.

Lane Kasselman, Uber’s former head of communications, talks about his
approach to managing multiple crisis situations at the ride-hailing company and his role in responding to the unusual crisis that confronted Strava, a mobile app for athletes.

PR veteran John Davies takes you behind the scenes with stories, anecdotes, and observations from his work on three headline-making crises situations in California. In his weekly crisis management commentary, host Edward Segal discusses companies that will - or won't - respond to the pandemic.

Kurt Mansperger, Chief Technology Officer of the Boston Library Library is interviewed by host Edward Segal about how the organization responded to COVID-19 and what others can learn from their experience.

Pamela Garber, a therapist with the Grand Central Counseling and Mediation Group in New York City, shares her advice on how companies can help employees in the aftermath of a mass shooting or workplace violence. In his weekly crisis commentary, Edward Segal discusses the problems that leaked emails can create for organizations.

Jeffrey Davis, managing partner and leader of the Baltimore office of Van Eperen, shares his advice on how organizations can ensure immediate access to their crisis management plans, the importance of receiving media training before a crisis hits, and the dangers companies can face from TikTok and other similar technologies.

Paul Furiga, CEO and chief story teller of Word Write, shares his insights and advice on how the pandemic has changed the practice of crisis communications, the steps organizations should take to prepare for a crisis, and the lessons to be learned from how a nursing home responded to the pandemic.

Jill Greenberg, the spokesperson and public information officer for Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, talks about some of the crisis situations she’s worked on. They include the recent failure of two dams, a toxic green ooze that leaked onto a major Detroit freeway, and the continuing impact of the Flint water crisis.

Crisis management consultant and author Edward Segal interviews Richard Levick, chairman and CEO of Levick, a public relations firm in Washington, DC. Richard Levick is a veteran crisis management expert who has had a role in numerous headline-making crisis situations around the world. Levick shares his experiences and crisis management advice in this expanded edition of Segal’s weekly podcast.