The SHOT Show is only one month away. Here’s another reason to make sure SHOT Show University is on your schedule. Meet speaker Ann Baldwin, who’s trained in avoiding and handling media crises. We are pleased to share a blog post from Ann.
Offered each year on the day before the SHOT Show opens, SHOT Show University features a day of seminars, designed to address the needs of those in the firearm retail business. Attendees will benefit from strategic sessions, providing each firearms store owner/manager with advice about operating their businesses more effectively. The 2014 SHOT Show University, with a theme of Aiming for Excellence, is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 13. If you haven’t already done so, grab your seats today before this opportunity sells out!
Speaker Spotlight: Ann Baldwin
Join us from 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. for “Media and Crisis Training,” presented by Ann Baldwin. Former news anchor, reporter and conservative talk-show host, Ann Baldwin, brings her “insider knowledge” of the media and its potential impact to you. From how to formulate your message to the “dos and don’ts” of delivering that message, this session will give you the ammunition to make sure that your business and the shooting sports industry don’t become unwanted targets.
Top 5 Things to Know When Social Media Drives a Crisis
In today’s news media, the days of the information from police scanners are over, and social media has taken over. From texts, tweets, to Facebook postings and beyond, these have become the new main source for news and a tool used to obtain information. The danger of this is that often times, the information released is premature and unconfirmed. Unfortunately, the reality is that most reporters don’t care; they will take the information and run with it.
So the big question is what can you do to manage that? As a communications professional that has been working closely with firearms retailers, NSSF and the news media, here are some recommendations on how to handle social media crises:
- Act Swiftly- The story goes on with or without you! Put your communications plan in place and get your message. Not in a week, not in a month, but immediately! The longer the public has to deal with bad or inaccurate information, the worse the situation can get.
- Address the Problem– If something bad has happened, get your message out to your constituents. Take the limited time to figure out what it is you need to say to calm the furry, decide who is going to deliver that message, what communication tools you have access to and get it done.
- Admit to Your Mistakes– It is not fun to come out and admit that something bad happened or that you’ve made a mistake. Sometimes all that people want to hear is an apology. There are situations where you have to take the hit and just move on.
- Communicate the Story– When a story gets out of control due to social media and when you haven’t communicated your side of the story, people begin to speculate. For example, I dealt with a situation with a firearms retailer, in which there was a ‘smash and grab.’ Because the owner of the store wasn’t talking, the news media was were drawing their own conclusions and neighbors of the retailer used this as an opportunity to question the safety of their neighborhood.
- Get Expert Advice– Many of you are fantastic business people, but not crisis experts. Depending on the situation and the potential lasting impact, you may want to consider reaching out to someone who can help you think through the situation and help you get your message out via social and traditional media. This is a task that can be very consuming, knowing you have a “go to” person or firm that can assist you, especially in a crisis situation, can take a load of your mind. Know who it is you should call in case of a crisis. It is similar to having insurance- you have it should you ever need it.
For more information on crisis management, please go to our website or visit us on Facebook.
About Ann Baldwin:
Ann Baldwin has more than a decade of expertise in the broadcasting and communications industry, which she passes on to clients as the CEO of Baldwin Media Marketing, a full-service public relations firm based in Connecticut. By applying her knowledge of the media industry, her firm has built a national reputation for its expertise in supplying support in crisis management, media management, marketing and presentation skills.
Before establishing her own business, Baldwin worked for more than 15 years in the television news business as an anchor/ reporter for stations across the country. She began her broadcast career in Cheyenne, Wyoming before moving to Connecticut and becoming an anchor at the NBC affiliate. In addition to working in television, Ann also found a niche in the radio industry and developed quite a following with the Ann Baldwin Show on WTIC-AM 1080. Although she has since devoted herself solely to running her business, she occasionally entertains her on-air talent as a fill-in at various stations in Connecticut. She has received numerous awards for her work and has co-authored numerous articles published on the benefits of media marketing and crisis management.
Baldwin is well-known for her public relations savvy, and networking ability. As someone who has worked on both sides of the microphone, she offers unique perspective to her clients. She has worked for a diverse list of clientele including Fortune 500 corporations, the government, universities, for-profit and non-profit organizations.
Baldwin received her bachelor’s degree in speech and theater arts from Colorado State University.
Patrick Shay is Director of Retailer Development for the National Shooting Sports Foundation.