This 1/2-day Crisis Communications Interactive Course covers the following key aspects, through slide presentations, case studies, videos, open discussion, as well as short group activities/exercises, including:

• Crisis Communications Principles, Priorities & Fundamentals
• The Role of the Media
• The Spokesperson's Role During a Crisis, Tips and Tricks
• Social Media Pitfalls
• *NEW” How to Handle Online (Zoom) Interviews
• Statements vs. News Releases vs. Press Conferences
• Media "Traps" and how to Avoid Them
• How to Handle a Live Interview
• How to Handle a Press Conference

The workshop focuses on the new era of EM and crisis communications, including new and emerging cybersecurity, terrorism, civil unrest, health emergencies and other growing risks and associated crisis communications considerations.

Course objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will:

• Know and bring back with them the top crisis communications ‘tips and tools of the trade
• Be able to communicate more effectively, both internally and externally, during an emergency or crisis
• Be more familiar with new and emerging communications trends both within North America and across the globe
• Be able to review and apply lessons learned to their own plans and procedures, based on recent case studies

Suzanne Bernier, CBCP

A former journalist and government press secretary, Suzanne is now an international, multi-certified, award-winning crisis management consultant, trainer, speaker and author, who has helped governments, communities and companies plan for, respond to, and recover from disasters for over 25 years. She is also a faculty member of DRI International, where she developed and has been teaching their online Crisis Communications course since 2021, and also developed and taught ICOR’s Crisis Communications Certification Course, both in class and online.

She was named 2016’s ‘Continuity & Resilience Consultant of the Year – North America’ by the Business Continuity Institute (BCI), and had the honor of being a guest speaker at The White House during FEMA’s 2016 Individual & Community Preparedness Awards ceremony.

Throughout her career, Suzanne has been professionally and/or personally involved in helping communities plan for, respond to, rebuild and/or recover from numerous crises, including the San Bernardino and 9/11 terror attacks, the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, Hurricanes Katrina & Sandy, the H1N1 pandemic, the 2003 Northeast Blackout, the 1998 “Ice Storm of the Century” in Eastern Canada, as well as numerous floods, fires, and severe storms.

After the SARS epidemic, she led the development of Ontario’s first recognized Pandemic Plan for the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board, and led their internal response to the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic. Following her work on infectious disease planning in Canada, she was commissioned by the United Nations Headquarters in 2008 to design and deliver their first Pandemic Tabletop Exercise and Pandemic After Action Report.

www.suzannebernier.com

This workshop is open to CEPCA All Access Pass holders. Registration is required, first come first serve, limited quantity. Registration details will be announced shortly.