Throughout the week I have been struck by something that gets continually overlooked in crisis and emergency communication. People and communities are viewed as passive receivers of information. This is particularly evident in emergency communication where authorities send out information and expect the receivers to then take action. But this is far from the truth.

The reality, as I have witnessed on more than one occasion, is that people are gathering information from lots of formal and notably informal sources. They don’t wait to be told what the situation is if it is something directly affecting them. They speak to friends and neighbours, they search online, they will listen to trusted media sources, and then they will decide what to do. This whole area will be explored in an upcoming discussion that I hope to share next week.

What does it mean to communication? The reality is when emergencies and crises happen we rush for the plans and procedures to help us navigate the uncertainties and challenges. Have we got the right policies and approaches in place?

It is vital to consider the audience that you want to communicate with but on a deeper level than is usually documented in communication plans. Do you know who are the people with authority within communities? It is important to realise that these are not appointed posts they will have developed over years and through many situations and events that have happened. You might know the residents Facebook group operators but is it them? Do you know who is trusted? Are you able to work with them to get your messages where they really matter?

This may all sound way too complex and difficult for organisations that have small communication teams, so what should we do?

1. Invest in mapping these local channels and relationships before anything happens.

2. Know who is trusted in communities and make contact so you can work with them if something happens. This is where local community resilience planning can be very helpful.

3. Review whether your communication is stuck in broadcast mode and see how you can move quickly into engagement.

4. Identify people who can help you to gather vital information from local communities about how they work when you are faced with a crisis.

5. Be prepared to listen particularly to those most affected as they will be telling you what they need from communication.

This has made me take a whole new look at emergency communication plans and next week I will be heading to Durham University for a two day workshop that will look communicating difficult messages well. There is a lot more we can do to bring this dimension of local messaging and channels into our preparedness planning.

Share

Misinformation, disinformation and narratives

In the latest 10 minutes with conversation, Amanda was joined by Shayoni Lynn from Lynn Advisory. The discussion focused on a recent report into misinformation and narratives surrounding the death of Henry Nowak in the UK. Watch the conversation and find out more about the research and what it means for communicators here.

In Brief

• The latest edition of the monthly crisis communication case study produced by Amanda is out. This one focuses on an issue a few miles from home but with important learning for everyone. Find it and the previous editions here.

• The challenges of crisis communication after the flooding disaster in Nepal is covered in an article in The Kathmandu Post. It highlights the desperate situation of families struggling to find reliable information. Read more here.

• A new study has examined the role of science communication in shaping behaviours during disease outbreaks. It focuses on avian flu and the important role of science communication in bridging gaps. Read the report here.

• Volkswagen employees have criticised the company over ‘disastrous’ communication about job cuts. Read more here.

• The Crisis Communication Think Tank (CCTT) at the University of Georgia and the Arthur W. Page Center at Penn State University are seeking proposals for research projects that examine the interplay of integrity and crisis communication. Find out more here.

• A Harvard professor has given details of how first contact with alien life may occur. Read more about it here.

Diary Dates

• On 15 September at 1pm the Emergency Planning Society Comms Group is hosting a webinar on creativity and resilience communication - Making Risk Resonate. The session is free and open to non-members. Find out more here.

• On 16 September, Amanda will be visiting the Emergency Services Show to be part of a panel discussion. The session at 2.30pm on 16 September considers security, cyber risk and social behaviour. If you are attending check the programme to find out more.

Subscribe now

I was considering what issues of crisis communication were on my mind for this newsletter but one thing hit me with the stepping down of the Travelodge Chief Executive and that is - it’s tough at the top. The leader of any business or organisation has to shoulder a lot and take responsibility when things go wrong. Could the Travelodge Chief Executive have survived? It is possible, but not with the events and response that has happened during 2026.

There are a number of key traits of successful leaders who find a way through challenging situations. I cover them in detail in my first book Crisis Communication Strategies. They include:

• Strategic Leadership: planning, decision-making, recovery.

• Communication Leadership: clarity, consistency, transparency.

• People Leadership: empathy, stakeholder management, team support.

• Personal Leadership: resilience, calmness under pressure, adaptability.

There is a reason that those at the top of organisations receive significant salaries. It is because they have to take responsibility to lead organisations and manage challenges, crises and issues when they develop. I have talked about the importance of recognising that your time as leader is coming to a conclusion and you are not the person that can take it forward when situations have deteriorated. The longer you try to hang on the more damage you can do to the organisation. We have seen it with water companies and in many other situations.

Is this worse than previous years? There are definitely more challenges for senior leaders. Their behaviour both in and outside of work will be scrutinised. Everything they do and say has the potential to make a situation worse and very quickly. Commentary will be extensive on social media and there really is no place to hide. What does this mean for those at the top of organisations?

They need to accept help and support, and ensure that they have received training to assist in managing incidents, making decisions under pressure and how to communicate. It is more than media training as this requires effective communication with staff, stakeholders and interested people. They need to ensure the business has the right risk and crisis policies and procedures in place that will support them in managing situations. They need to accept that when things go wrong they can be a proactive part of the solution or just wait until their position becomes untenable. The Travelodge case will not be the last of its kind but hopefully some leaders will look at it and realise what they need to do to be ready for the next crisis.

Share

New Book Published

In the newly published Advances in the Practice of Risk, Crisis and Emergency, Amanda considers the importance of understanding audiences. She is one of the contributors to the book which also includes chapters from Professor Timothy Coombs, Dr Vincent Covello, Kjell Brataas and Mona Curry. Details of how to order a copy are available here.

In Conversation With

Amanda continues to find interesting people with interesting things to say about crisis, emergency, disaster, risk and resilience communication. In the latest conversations, Amanda talked to resilience educator Charles Stubington about his fascinating risk illustrations. She also met up with Nigel Sarbutts to consider the role mediation could have in managing and resolving issues.

Watch Charles talking about creativity and illustration here.

Watch Nigel discussing issues and mediation here.

If you have an interesting view, role or approach to risk, crisis and resilience communication get in touch with Amanda to discuss featuring in a future 10 minutes with interview. Email office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

In Brief

• After the UK use of the emergency alert to raise awareness of the challenges of wildfires and what people needed to take care with such as barbeques, this paper that Amanda co-authored may be of interest. It looks at the media and early warning systems. Read the paper here.

• Amanda was quoted in a PR Week article considering whether the use of the emergency alert was the right thing. Read more here.

• The Emergency Planning Society is running a webinar looking at how to build creativity into crisis preparedness and resilience. The session on 15 September is online and free to all including non-members. Find out more here.

• The food contamination crisis is put under the microscope by a crisis communicator specialising in that area. In an article for The Packer Amy Philpott talks about how crisis comms plans need to change. Read the article here.

• An article on the LSE website considers the role of social media in the Ceuta crisis when an estimated 60,000 migrants went across the border. Read more here.

• The UK Government is running a consultation on the Civil Contingencies Act. There is an opportunity to respond up to 5 October. Find out more here.

• Wildfires when on holiday are a real issue that tourists are being encouraged to recognise and prepare for. Find out more here.

Diary Dates

• On 4 September at 10.30am, Amanda will be running a crisis management training webinar for the PRCA. Find out more about it here.

• On 15 September at 1pm the Emergency Planning Society Comms Group is hosting a webinar on creativity and resilience communication - Making Risk Resonate. The session is free and open to non-members. Find out more here.

• On 16 September, Amanda will be visiting the Emergency Services Show to be part of a panel discussion. The session at 2.30pm on 16 September considers security, cyber risk and social behaviour. If you are attending check the programme to find out more.

Subscribe now

The short answer for me would be yes. This came into my musings this week with the statement from FIFA about the failed sell off of the World Cup and questions over the future of President Gianni Infantino. I could feel the culture of FIFA shining through with every word and phrase, and the way they were put together.

There is a sort of half apology but more rooted in process than the principle that was being considered. They commit to review and for errors ‘not to happen again’. Then comes this interesting phrase “FIFA will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process and will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation.” Before the dreaded phase that everyone seems to use about learning lessons before pushing back to focus on the process. (You can read the statement here)

Organisations that have been through crisis will always want to move ahead and draw a line under it quickly. But that is not as easy as it may seem. There will always be questions that linger and things that need to be addressed.

When I get am discussing crisis communication plans during training I highlight the importance of understanding the organisations values and what they mean to the position the business has or wants to have and how it should influence the response. For example, if you are a business that has values about prioritising customers then this should drive the priority actions when a problem occurs. But there is a flip side to the values and culture that can impact on the effectiveness of your crisis communication and that is how this culture can create organisational deafness or a cultural ignorance.

What is acceptable within the workplace may not be acceptable to those outside of it and particularly those affected by a crisis. If there is an organisational arrogance, a belief that we know best, a failure to listen or accept challenge then this is likely to come through in what you say. So what do we need to do to avoid this pitfall?

Organisations need to be open to the challenge that comes from those outside. It needs to consider what is being said and how it will be viewed. What does it mean to others? And would you feel comfortable to say it directly to the people who were and are most affected?

Understanding culture and the impact it has on crisis communication can mean more effective communication or it can mean reinforcing negative views of the organisation. On that note, take another look at the FIFA statement and see what you think.

Share

10 Minutes With considers community engagement in Australia’s Rural Fire Service

In my latest 10 Minutes With, Amanda talks with Catherine James about her work in the New South Wales Rural Fire Service building a community engagement and preparedness framework. The short conversation looks at the important work of volunteers, how the new framework was created and how it may help others.

Watch the short conversation here.

Latest Training

Amanda’s remaining training sessions for 2026 are:

• 20 August 14:00 Crisis Communication Exercise

• 24 September 14:00 Tackling Misinformation and Disinformation

• 15 October 14:00 Duty of Candour - Responding effectively

• 18 November 14:00 Disasters, Emergencies and Mass Casualty Situations

All training is online for two hours. Places are strictly limited and can be booked by contacting office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

In Brief

• There is still time to book to join the Emergency Planning Society webinar with Professor Timothy Coombs. It takes place on 13 August at 1pm and is an amazing opportunity to hear from the renowned academic. To register to attend click here.

• The National Centre for Resilience in Scotland has published a report looking at trust in emergency communication against the backdrop of misinformation and disinformation. Read more about the discussion and findings here.

• The United Nations University has published a paper on Misinformation, Disinformation and the Crisis of Trust in Public Institutions. It links the challenges to governance not just communication and content. Read more here.

• Information about wildfires and the importance of explaining the risks is covered in an article by David Shukman former BBC news science editor and author. Read more here.

• An emergency alert test in Australia found that 1 in 9 people failed to get the message and the majority had no explanation. Read more about the findings here.

• The UNDRR was asking how we can avoid emergency alert fatigue? Read more about it here.

• The latest crisis communication case study - Testing Times - looks at a recent incident considering why downplaying the severity can create further problems. Read the August edition and previous editions here.

Diary Dates

• At 2pm on 20 August Amanda will lead a Crisis Communication Exercise session where attendees will be put through their paces with a crisis scenario. It is a great way to learn in a safe environment. For more information or to book a space email office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

• On 4 September at 10.30am, Amanda will be running a crisis management training webinar for the PRCA. Find out more about it here.

Subscribe now

In the past year I have been talking about the importance of bringing creativity into crisis communication. This is not in a PR campaign, sales or cynical way, but rather in a way that will make the vital information shared during a crisis more engaging as well as accessible.

We build crisis plans to help us with what to do and how to react quickly but in a world that has an increasingly short attention span getting noticed is critical. It is not just about the preparation that needs to be eye catching. Even when an emergency or crisis has happened the communication needs to grab people. It needs to be easy to understand, accessible and covering the information people want not just what we think they need.

Creativity cannot be something that is overlooked or seen as a ‘we can do that later’ aspect of this work. I was energised this week to meet with Charles Stubington who is a resilience professional who also illustrates risks. It may sound unusual but you can check out one that he created for me at the bottom of this post. It was based around my sadness at never reading the Knowsley Safari Park emergency plan in a job many years ago. We underestimate the importance of non verbal communication.

There is the phrase a picture is worth a thousand words. For many people this is the case. My Dad is dyslexic and finds images so much easier to deal with than lots of text. There is a universality of imagery which is why we use them for road signs. And in the world of social media, we see the image first and the text later. There are of course challenges with this but we need to grasp the reality that is in front of us. All the carefully crafted crisis communication messages may never have the same impact as just one photograph, picture or image.

Thanks Charles for a really engaging and energising conversation. And I would encourage people to check out his work and let us all be working out how we can be more creative in our crisis communication.

If you have any examples of creative crisis communication or any thoughts on how this could develop please share them.

Share

UK National Risk Register Published

After the last Under Pressure newsletter considered the importance of identifying and understand risks, it was followed last week with the publication of the UK’s National Risk Register 2026. The document is starting to recognise that they don’t work individually and that there are crossovers and connections between the risks. There is also a focus on building community resilience. Big questions remain about the mitigation and work to minimise the risks which feels like an unanswered point but also the wider understanding of how to engage communities with what may feel like a distant problem from their position. Check out the register here.

Impact of wildfires in Europe

The image says it all about the impact of wildfires this year. The European Union has data and up to date information that is shared including this image from this week. To find out more check out the website here.

Crisis Comms Drop In is back

Amanda will be available for a chat about anything linked to crisis communication, response and incident management. The next crisis comms drop in will be on 31 July at 11am. You can register to join the drop in here. A link for the session will be shared a few days before.

In Conversation with Professor Timothy Coombs

The Emergency Planning Society’s Communication PWG is running a session with Professor Timothy Coombs to review his latest research as well as gather his insights on modern crisis communication, his situational crisis communication theory and communicating under pressure. It is free to join and is open to EPS members and non-members and takes place on 13 August 2026 at 1pm BST. Register to join the online session here.

Coming Soon…

• The popular 10mins With video series is continuing with some interesting conversations with emergency and crisis communication and management professionals both in the UK and overseas. If you have an interesting development or piece of work that you have been leading and want to share it with people get in touch with Amanda at office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk . View the previous editions here.

• In August the second edition of the Women in resilience survey will be launched with emergency, crisis and resilience professionals including communicators encouraged to answer the questions and provide details of their experiences. This will be used to assess the feedback against the first edition of the survey that took place in 2025. This is part of Amanda’s commitment to gauge a baseline of the lived experiences of those working in these key roles. Details will be shared through social media and future editions of this newsletter.

In Brief:

• Amanda wrote a blog for the Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Management (ICPEM) which she recently was admitted to as a member. Read the article here.

• With the progression of the Duty of Candour through the UK Parliament, Amanda has written a blog about what needs to follow in the weeks and months ahead. Read more here. If you are interested in training on what the Public Sector (Accountability) Bill will mean for communicators get in touch with Amanda.

• The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction is now providing the Inclusive Early Warning Early Action: Checklist and Implementation Guide in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic. The guide aims to help practitioners build inclusive early warning systems across all five key elements of early warning systems. Find out more here.

• After the wildfires claimed multiple lives in Spain the question remains about the nationalities of the victims and whether messages were received and understood. Read more here.

• Indigenous communities are disadvantaged with a lack of effective communication according to indigenous leaders in Canada. Read more about the comments after wildfires here.

• In a recent blog Amanda looks at the importance of bringing communities into the crisis communication preparation. Find out more here.

Diary Dates:

• On 11 August in the morning UK time Amanda will be running her popular Crisis Communication 101 session. Three hours to ensure you have the basics to deal with challenging situations. For more information or to book a space email office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

• On 20 August at 9.30am UK time Amanda will be running a half day session on Developing a Communication Strategy for the PRCA. Find out more about the session here.

• At 2pm on 20 August Amanda will lead a Crisis Communication Exercise session where attendees will be put through their paces with a crisis scenario. It is a great way to learn in a safe environment. For more information or to book a space email office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

• There are just a couple of spaces left on the Operating Ethically in PR and Comms session planned for 22 September. If you are interested in joining find out more here.

  Subscribe now

It is an interesting question. We generally get the operational risks that will stop the business or organisation functioning, fire, flood, machinery breakdown. I am sure the World Cup organisers considered all those things. I wonder whether they considered the President of the USA interfering in on-pitch decisions and the further deterioration of FIFA’s reputation?

Risk identification is often a thing we have on a ‘nice to do if we have time’ list. When I speak to communicators they are often so stretched to deal with today’s real problems that are hitting them in the face, they have no capacity or inclination to start to consider what could happen possibly at some time in the future. But this means they are missing opportunities to mitigate some risks before the emerge.

It doesn’t have to be an additional chore or task on top of everything else. Just a couple of hours can put you on the right path towards being more risk aware and prepared. Once the work is done and the seeds are sown it is can grow and develop. There are some simple steps that you can take, but it is definitely work that needs to be done with as many voices internally or feedback from external sources as possible.

1. Consider the operational and business context of the organisation. Where it is and what it is doing at that point in time. Think of what reputation you have and what changes may be impacting on the business.

2. Identify risks by considering all the potential problems and issues that could happen. If you are struggling look at it through these categories: people, process, policy, perception, finance and external events.

3. Go through the risks and consider which are most likely to happen and from a reputational and communication perspective what impact it could have. Rate 1 to 5, low risk to high risk. Multiply the two and there is the risk.

4. That isn’t where it ends, then you need to consider what mitigation can be taken to minimise, reduce or prevent the risk.

With the complexity of the world now, this work should be a priority as risks and crises are no longer individual they are multiple and interwoven. But complexity can be helped with a simple look at the areas of challenge or concern. When we see problems and crises occur you can always track it back to a risk that slipped by or wasn’t recognised just like the start of the disaster recovery graph.

If you haven’t considered risks from a communication perspective put in some time for the summer to help towards resilience.

Share

Hear from Professor Timothy Coombs

The Emergency Planning Society’s Communication Professional Working Group is hosting a webinar with the internationally renowned academic Professor Timothy Coombs. Prof Coombs devised Situational Crisis Communication Theory and has published multiple works on crisis and emergency communication. The session is on 13 August at 1pm BST. Register to join the session here.

Book Review - Decoding Confidence by Advita Patel

When I was setting up my consultancy, Advita was incredibly generous with her time and words of wisdom. She had established her own business a few months before and I will always remember the kindness and support she showed. We have spoken many times since then but what has always surprised me is hearing her talk about her own journey with confidence.

Social media gives us a carefully curated view of people’s lives and businesses and it is only when we scratch below the surface that we can find out what is really going on. So, I was delighted when Advita told me she was writing a book on confidence and when I read it I could hear her voice on every page.

This books moves between research and personal experiences in a way that helps to make the points resonate and hit home. More than that it has practical steps that you can try and implement to help you on your own journey. It doesn’t matter if you are a leader, work in an agency, work alone, there are points in this book that will benefit everyone.

I have battled with a lack of confidence like most people have during their lives and careers. What I have never done is tried to unpick what is going on and understand it. Thankfully, I don’t need to do that work because Advita has done it and in this book she generously shares that knowledge with us all. It is a book that you can go back to again and again trying some of the practical exercises and assessing your skills as they develop. I devoured this book in two days while travelling for work and if you have ever wondered about confidence and building your self confidence this is an invaluable book to have on your shelves. Find out more about the book and where to buy it here.

Why are we failing to learn lessons?

If you missed Amanda and Professor Lucy Easthope in conversation on 29 June you can find out some of what was included in the discussion in this article posted on LinkedIn. Read it here. If you have any suggestions about topics for future Amanda and Lucy’s future sessions let us know.

In Brief

• The latest crisis communication case study Testing Times has been published and is now available on Amanda’s website here.

• In a recent 10 minutes with chat, Amanda spoke to Ollie Cowan about his experiences and what he learnt from his role in the response to the Southport attack. You can watch it here.

• The Emergency Planning Society Comms group have published a document for schools looking at communicating in a crisis. Find out more about it here.

• A book is due for publication on 7 September looking at Resilience in Emergency Management co-authored by Beverley Griffiths. Find out more about it here.

• What do you do when storms have knocked out or damaged your emergency response communication? From reading an article about a lightening strike in Newberry County it appears there was no alternative in place. Read more here.

• In a recent blog Amanda considered why we should move away from thoughts of controlling crisis communication and response. Read more here.

Diary Dates:

• On 11 August in the morning UK time Amanda will be running her popular Crisis Communication 101 session. Three hours to ensure you have the basics to deal with challenging situations. For more information or to book a space email office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

• On 20 August at 9.30am UK time Amanda will be running a half day session on Developing a Communication Strategy for the PRCA. Find out more about the session here.

• At 2pm on 20 August Amanda will lead a Crisis Communication Exercise session where attendees will be put through their paces with a crisis scenario. It is a great way to learn in a safe environment. For more information or to book a space email office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

• There are just a couple of spaces left on the Operating Ethically in PR and Comms session planned for 22 September. If you are interested in joining find out more here.

Subscribe now

After years working in the police it is easy to become focused on incident management from that perspective. The reality is that all businesses and organisations will face difficult situations and there are some universal principles of incident management. All this is vital to try and prevent those incidents becoming a full blown crisis. Now more than ever we should all hone and practice these skills on a regular basis.

I have spent time this week in a number of different settings and while the specifics were different the underlying approach and management had many similarities. In the same way we practice the approaches and response to a crisis, we should review how we deal with incidents particularly those challenging ones that have the potential to get worse.

So what are the key principles?

1. Ensure there is no ambiguity about who is in charge and where decisions are made.

2. Take a few minutes to really assess the problem fully so that you make the best assessment of the situation and its current or potential impact.

3. Halt the damage and take urgent actions before you delve into a long term solution.

4. Silence adds to concerns so communicate clearly and frequently so that people understand what is happening.

5. Work collaboratively as silos create problems where things get overlooked or people are duplicating their efforts.

6. Things will change throughout the lifespan of the incident so keep the actions and strategy under review.

7. Base your decisions in facts rather than assumptions.

8. Record all the decisions and actions taken so that you can improve and develop. It is also important to establish a no-blame approach to reviews so that the organisation can learn.

With the focus this week being on the resilience needed to deal with changing climate and weather conditions, we can become focused on a crisis response without recognising how we can build resilience through effective incident management. Take a moment to think about how you respond to those difficult situations and what could be improved.

Share

Last call for Professor Lucy Easthope webinar

More than 100 people are signed up to join Amanda and the amazing Professor Lucy Easthope, a disaster recovery expert, to talk about why we continue to make the same mistakes. The session is on Monday 29 June at 6.30pm. Find out more and register to join here.

Emergency Planning Society Communication Updates

There are two exciting developments this week from the Emergency Planning Society’s Communication PWG. First was the publication of the Preparing Schools for Communicating in a Crisis guidance that was developed by group members Andy Holdsworth and Charlotte Dimond. Many thanks to them for the hard work. Read more about it here. The second was the announcement that Professor Timothy Coombs the internationally renowned crisis communication expert and academic will be joining the group for a webinar on 13 August 2026 at 1pm BST so put the date in your diary if you want to listen to the man who created Situational Crisis Communication Theory.

Digital News Report Published

This year’s Reuters Digital News Report has been published and once again it is packed with interesting information. A couple of notable points were that social media and video is more popular than TV and news websites as a source of news, and there is a growth in people experimenting with AI chatbots for news. Read more here.

In Brief:

• As temperatures have soared in the UK and across Europe, Forbes ran an article on why summer is the most overlooked risk as crisis readiness ‘doesn’t take a vacation’. Read more here.

• After the announcement in the UK of a social media ban for under 16s, new research from Australia raises concerns about how effective it is as an approach. Find out more here.

• Residents in some Brazilian cities received an emergency alert message warning them of alien attack after the system was taken over by hackers. Read more here.

• Amanda spoke with Sarah Morgan for her podcast Crisis Point looking at the human impact of crisis communication. Find out more and listen here.

• EMEAA founder and vice-president Dan Stoneking explains why crisis communicators are still vital in a world of artificial intelligence. Read more here.

• Social media is at the centre of brand crises according to new research conducted by Sprout Social. It is the number one place where customers and consumers hear about the brand crisis. Find out more here.

• Amanda is delighted to be joining the judging panel for the Social Media Awards alongside a range of experts. Find out more here.

Subscribe now

It has been a challenging few weeks for the UK and emergency responders following the court case related to the murder of Henry Nowak, the conclusion of the Nottingham attack public inquiry evidence sessions there was the horrific attack in Belfast. Words struggle to sum up the emotion and pain that is evident with each of these situations, and others that we are probably not aware of. But are there any key points to take from what we are experiencing?

The major problem of a lack of trust in authorities is obvious from recent experiences. I believe we are now at a critical point. Some bad decisions have added to these problems and there is widespread mistrust of police, politicians and the media. This has been a growing issue since the Covid-19 pandemic but now it has reached critical levels. Even the most mild mannered person is questioning what information is released. The way things are talked about and the words that are used has become a critical issue. There appears to be a growing disconnect between sections of communities and those preparing and signing off communication.

Finding a way forward is not going to be easy but it has to start with a real understanding of how the communication is affecting people. Linked to that the growth of misinformation and disinformation now means it is widespread. There was an interesting report out this week about the loss of local media and how it correlates to a growth in fake news. If you don’t have this as part of your crisis planning now is the time to refresh and update those plans.

Polarisation in society is being fuelled by misinformation and the way social media is being used by some groups and individuals. It is making the response to situations more and more challenging. We need to understand the fears, concerns and emotions that are involved if there is going to be any way forward. I have serious concerns that attempts to introduce stronger control on social media rather than make things better will make it worse. People already have a lack of trust in what is said. They will find ways to share on other social media. Getting beneath the channel to understand the mindset, attitudes and behaviour is more critical to finding a way forward.

It is clear that managing emergency and crisis situations has changed, is changing and will not be the way we have experienced it in previous years. We have to keep things under review, open to change and understand what is happening around us.

Share

10 Minutes With

In the latest 10 minute conversations, Amanda talks with Advita Patel about her book Decoding Confidence and what the seven habits of confident leaders can mean when people are under pressure. Watch it here.

Where did it go wrong?

There is still time to join Amanda with Professor Lucy Easthope talking about why we have a cycle of getting things wrong, and looking at what should be ‘never forget’ training. Register to join the free online session here.

In Brief:

• Citizens brought together from across the EU to consider preparedness have highlighted 20 recommendations. Find out more and read the report here.

• Crisis expert Kjell Brataas has co-authored a new report for the Counter Terrorism Preparedness Network titled Deciding the Future of Disaster Sites: A Practical Guide. Find out more here.

• An interesting article about Austin Police’s use of an alert system raises key points about messaging and the trust needed in such systems. It was covered in a paper I co wrote with Dan Stoneking, Ed Conley and Kjell Brataas (find it here). Read the details of the events in Austin here.

• Dan Stoneking, Vice President of the Emergency Management External Affairs Association, has written an article on why we need to move from talking about preparedness to readiness. Find out more here.

• Considering how to manage crises in the Arctic is covered in a recent article with some interesting areas to consider. Read the details here.

• False emergency reports have been highlighted as a significant problem as authorities try to deal with flooding in Ghana. Find out more here.

• The importance of community radio in emergency and disaster response has been highlighted through work in Jamaica supported by UNESCO. Find out more here.

• The latest crisis communication monthly case study has been published and looks at the importance of explaining risk. Find the June edition and previous ones here.

• A terrible fire at a school in Kenya has raised issues about why changes have not been made after a similar fire two years earlier. Read more here.

Diary Dates:

• On Thursday 18 June at 9.30am Amanda will run the half day workshop looking at Advanced Crisis Communication skills. Contact office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for information.

Subscribe now

When you receive this newsletter I will be in Amsterdam doing some training and speaking at a conference to researchers and scientists. Working in other parts of the world always makes me consider whether there are any differences in approach to crisis communication and what they may be. The answer is a yes and no.

The fundamentals of crisis communication apply across the board. In my view, and when looking at the research, there are some fundamentals that exist the world over. These include ensuring you are focused on what those affected by the crisis need and understanding how they are being negatively impacted. Ensuring there is a regular flow of information in an attempt to limit the impact of misinformation and disinformation is also universal. Then there is the need to be prepared and to have a plan that will give you the support required so that you can focus on the details of what has happened and what is needed.

The work I am doing looks at the circumstances of a number of incidents and then to review the approach. When I have been preparing and considering the situations it has been a reminder of how small the world is and how similar issues can be found from country to country.

What we always need to build into our crisis response is cultural intelligence. I have been reading Advita Patel’s new book Decoding Confidence which I absolutely recommend and will do a proper review of in a future edition of this newsletter, in it she highlights the importance of understanding people and the differences to how they view communication. It should be an important consideration in the response to crisis situations and I have covered this issue in short training sessions. Taking care to really understand what has happened, who is impacted, what we know about them and what cultural context there is, will mean a much better crisis communication response.

Because we have to move quickly to respond to emerging situations, it can often mean that we never move out of the broadcast communication we adopt in the first moments. Effective crisis communication needs to be adaptable and should change and develop throughout the response. This is where we can make a difference and move from simply telling people things to actually trying to help them understand the situation.

Share

10 Minutes With

The new season continues with an interesting and enjoyable conversation with Philippe Borremans a crisis and risk specialist with extensive knowledge of artificial intelligence. Don’t miss it and watch here.

And you can find all the back editions of 10 Minutes With here.

What to say - crisis communication session

Amanda is working with Tessa Drayton to deliver a session on June 10 looking at what to say when it matters most. The crisis communication will have a focus on incidents and what to consider in response. To find out more check it out here.

In Conversation with Professor Lucy Easthope

There is still chance to book on the next session where Amanda and Professor Lucy Easthope will be talking about how we can stop making the same mistakes in managing crises. The session is on Monday 29 June at 6.30pm BST. Find out more here.

In Brief:

• Professor Timothy Coombs has updated his Reexamining Crisis Communication paper to consider the recent crisis challenges. Always an important paper to read for those working in practical crisis communication. Find out more here.

• The latest crisis communication monthly case study - Testing Times - will be live on Amanda’s website early next week. Find it and previous editions here.

• Finland’s government have started a review of their emergency alert systems after a drone threat linked to Ukraine sparked an early warning alert that disrupted the area of Uusimaa including public services and schools. Read more here. In a further article a national guide is being considered for households on how to deal with drone incidents. Read more here.

• The EU has recommended 20 changes to improve emergency preparedness after a series of consultation events with communities. Find out what it includes here.

• North America is considering how to update emergency plans in light of recent research. Find out what it means here.

• China has launched a nationwide emergency communication platform to ensure connectivity when disasters and emergencies happen. Find out more here.

• An interesting article when considering leadership and communication in crisis from Personnel Today. People who embrace ‘corporate speak’ are worse at making workplace decisions. Read more here.

Diary Dates:

• Tuesday 16 June at 9.30am Amanda is running a half day workshop to give the basics of crisis communication. Contact office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for information.

• On Thursday 18 June at 9.30am Amanda will run the half day workshop looking at Advanced Crisis Communication skills. Contact office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for information.

  Subscribe now

There is a much used quote attributed to Einstein that says “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” It makes sense. Why would we just hope that things will change and improve if we don’t make an active effort to do something about it. This is raising its head a lot for me during 2026.

Every public inquiry brings with it points where we need to learn, develop and change and that is for communication and not just operational activity. But where does it go? Who picks up the information and does something with it? Who ensures that those working in communication understand where failings have happened and what caused them? It isn’t just the big inquiries but there are a whole range of events that should be understood and dissected so that the same path is not walked again and again.

There are many working in the communication and emergency space that try to share the important points that are featured in reports and the academic research. But this can be a drop in a very wide ocean.

We are all experiencing a very challenging and chaotic world with significant uncertainty. This is being intensified by a hyper-connected public who struggle to understand why the same problems are emerging time after time. With all the technology we have available there has still not been a way of creating a central source for key updates on what needs to change. I am sure there would be a question over the independence of such a repository as well.

I am starting to think that the big stumbling block is not the creation of a repository but the willingness of people to change and in some cases throw away the old plans to create new ones. Maybe that is what we need to focus on. We need to cut through the day-to-day challenges and pressures to find a way to promote the importance of training and development so we can avoid heading down the same path that hasn’t worked before.

This is a conversation we need to have and continue which is why Professor Lucy Easthope and I will be considering it at a June event (see below).

Share

Where did it all go wrong? A conversation between Professor Lucy Easthope and Amanda Coleman

Amanda and Professor Lucy Easthope are back with another of the free online discussions. This time the focus is on why things are going wrong and continuing to be repeated over and over again. It should be an interesting discussion with lots of chance to raise issues and share questions. It is free, online and takes place at 6.30pm on Monday 29 June.

You can register to join the session here.

10 Minutes With

The series has returned with the latest discussion between Dr Julia Pearce and Professor Atiya Kamal and Amanda. They are the developers of the TAPIE model to assist with communication before, during and after communicable disease outbreaks. The work is beneficial for all involved in crisis and emergency communication. Find out what TAPIE stands for and more about it here. Watch for more 10 Mins With in the coming days.

Independent Impact Awards

Amanda was delighted to be recognised in the Independent Impact 50 Awards at the start of the month. It is the second year she featured in the list of top independent communicators and follows on the recognition with the Strategic Global Awards 26. Find out more here.

Watch if you missed - Meet the Author

Amanda this week was in conversation with CEO of VMA Group for their Meet The Author series talking about her last book Strategic Reputation Management. Find out what she said here.

In Brief:

• Amanda has written two articles that appeared in the latest edition of Crisis Response Journal. The first was a discussion of the findings of the women in crisis and resilience that was published in early 2026. Read it here. The second was a report from a conversation with campaigner Figen Murray OBE.

• The impact of social media crises is considered in a new book from Duncan Koerber which provides a look at how social media platforms have become the place of digital disasters. Find out more here.

• EMEAA President Dan Stoneking talks about a perennial problem when approval processes create problematic delays. Read more here of the article on the Homeland Security website.

• Amanda outlined some key principles about rebuilding reputation after considering the challenges facing the UK Prime Minister after devastating local election results. Read the blog here.

• In a reminder of the importance of understanding supply networks and vulnerabilities, a fire in a data centre in the Netherlands left a university and infrastructure out of operation. Read more here.

• The latest edition of Testing Times considers the management of personal data and communication when it things go wrong. Find the May 2026 edition and more than 70 others here.

Diary Dates:

• The next training session Amanda is running is on Tuesday 19 May at 2pm BST and will be looking at effective crisis communication messaging. Get in touch at office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk to book a space.

• Tuesday 16 June at 9.30am Amanda is running a half day workshop to give the basics of crisis communication. Contact office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for information.

Subscribe now

This year has involved a lot of crisis simulations where plans and procedures are put to the test and it is a positive step in building resilience. I spend a lot of time to make scenarios as realistic as possible with places and names that are familiar. But for a really effective simulation you have to push the boundaries.

It means having multiple challenging scenarios that happen and throwing a few curve balls in like a loss of power, difficult bosses and disinformation. Having just one simple step by step scenario that runs in slow time will not be an effective stress test.

When we are put under significant pressure the areas of weakness will be more evident more quickly. Then comes the most important step - the feedback and the changes and updates needed within the planning and approach. How often should you do this? Well, in the current state of flux across the world I believe a quarterly review of risks and crisis plans is essential. Even a couple of hours devoted to a short exercise or simulation will be worth it to be up to date to address the developing problems. A more detailed simulation should be completed every year as a minimum.

So, what are you looking for when creating a simulation or engaging a consultant to create one for you?

1. Ambiguity - a scenario should introduce conflicting information, time pressures and have no simple solutions.

2. Decision making and behaviours that you want to test.

3. Pressure on chains of command and information flows up, down and sideways in the organisation and outside.

4. A responsive simulation that responds to the decisions that are made.

5. A scenario that cuts across all aspects of communication and connects to the operational activities.

If you want to talk through how to approach developing a crisis simulation get in touch with Amanda at amanda@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

Share

Permacrisis and what it means for communication

The word permacrisis is used a lot but what does it really mean for those who are working in communication and PR?

1. Crisis is no longer an add on it is part of day-to-day business.

2. Speed needs to come with resilience.

3. Avoiding over reassurance is fundamental.

4. Silence when a crisis happens is a decision with implications.

5. Visible leadership remains essential.

From crisis comms 101 to advanced - latest training update

The next couple of months are a bumper training opportunity for anyone interested in getting the basics or more advanced crisis communication. Amanda is running the following sessions with some spaces still available:

Tuesday 19 May 2pm BST - Effective Crisis Communication Messaging - two hour session looking at message development, psychology and latest research.

Tuesday 16 June 9.30am - 12.30pm BST - Crisis Communication 101 - everything you need to have the basics for crisis communication and be ready to respond.

Thursday 18 June 9.30am - 12.30pm BST - Advanced Crisis Communication - if you have experience and want to delve a bit deeper into psychology, use of AI, audience understanding, cultural intelligence and more this is for you.

To find out more information or book a space email office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

In Brief:

• New research about flash floods in Australia has found a need to improve communication about uncertainty in forecasts and warnings. It also issues a warning against the use of defined numerical probabilities and terms such as ‘likely’ and ‘possible’. Read more here.

• The latest crisis communication case study for May will be published early next week on Amanda’s website looking at the Biobank data breach.

• The UNDRR shared details of its available training that is free and can be accessed online. Find out what is available here.

• Psychology Today has published an article considering the impact that workplace disruption can have on staff and how to move out of crisis. Read more here.

• A new study has considered wildfires and how communication, perception, and governance shape wildfire preparedness and health outcomes. The study was featured in Nature. Read more here.

• An interesting potential step in the management of social media as Greece is considering banning anonymity on social media. Read more here.

• In recent years there has been increasing violence seen towards executives. A recent article considers what this means particularly for HR Executives. Read more here.

• The upcoming World Cup is considered a major test for emergency management according to EMEAA co-founder Dan Stoneking. Read his views here. And Hotel Business shared an article asking if emergency management was ready for the World Cup surge. Find out more here.

• Willis: Rising uncertainty reshapes reputational risk as firms tighten controls. Survey from the re/insurance broker finds falling confidence but growing focus on risk management and modelling. Read more here.

• The International Atomic Energy Agency highlighted training events to look at the emergency communication needed for the Fukushima power plant. Read more here.

Diary Dates:

• Amanda will be the latest author to be featured in VMA’s Meet the Author series. On 12 May at 1.30pm she will be exploring her last book Strategic Reputation Management. Find out more here.

• The next training session Amanda is running is on Tuesday 19 May at 2pm BST and will be looking at effective crisis management.

• Tuesday 16 June at 9.30am Amanda is running a half day workshop to give the basics of crisis communication. Contact office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for information.

Subscribe now

What do we do when an organisation asks us to behaviour in a way that goes against our values and ethics? It is easy to believe we will say no or ask some more questions but when we are just starting out in our careers or new to an organisation this may not be as simple as it seems.

Most communicators don’t go to work to manipulate, obscure or confuse people. They want to share information and help people to understand things whether it is a service or a new product. But the reality can be that we are pushed into a position where our advice ignores the evidence, twists the meaning and avoids the truth. I ran a free operating ethically in pr and comms session recently and the discussion was helpful. It was a safe space to consider the implications of what we do or what we are asked to do.

Understanding our boundaries is important and they will potentially change over time as we become more experienced and more comfortable in challenging leaders. It is that latter point that can be one of the most difficult things. How do you politely make a senior manager aware that what they want you to do is not acceptable? I am not sure I ever found the answer and was always a little abrupt in shining a light on areas of concern. But more than that what happens when you are a junior member of the team and you are put under pressure.

We all know that ethics is important to what we do but how often do we take time to consider the impact and implications of events? And what tools are available to help us.

There are three key parts that are important to ethical communication: Intent, Impact and Power.

• Intent - why are we communicating this and whose interests are we focusing on?

• Impact - who is affected and what is the impact or harm?

• Power - who are we influencing and who is unable to challenge the situation?

We need to ensure that those joining PR as a career are given support to navigate through these challenges. There are tools that exist including the ethical pause which is something I have started to introduce. Alongside that there is the power scan, emotion mapping, and a language audit as well as using the codes of ethics and supporting material from the CIPR and the PRCA.

Most important is our commitment to never sit back and stop challenging ourselves or considering the privileged position we have to either help or hinder.

If you are interested in attending a future session on ethical communication I will be running something in early September. But until then take a moment to consider ethical communication and have a look at the quick reference guide below.

Final thought - a huge thank you to Strategic for the honour of being named in the Strategic 26 communication leaders at the Strategic Global Awards 2026 which was announced last night. It was a pleasant surprise so thanks to everyone that nominated, supported or judged.

Share

Effective crisis messaging training

The next training session Amanda is running is on Tuesday 19 May at 2pm BST. This will be a look at how to develop effective crisis communication messaging including the words, images, actions and with a dash of neurolinguistics. Spaces are limited so contact office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for more information or to book a place.

In Brief:

• A new report has been published by the European Commission Joint Research Centre. Fractured Reality considers the impact of the digital technology changes on European democracy. It considers the risks and how algorithms prioritise engagement over accuracy and how integrity, collective knowledge and civic discourse are being undermined. Take a look and let us know your thoughts. Read more here.

• A new study has considered all the academic paper looking at crisis communication over the past 24 years. Take a look at what it found here.

• Dan Stoneking, Vice President of the Emergency Management External Affairs Association (EMEAA) has shared details about the principles of information from his extensive experience in a recent Homeland Security article. Read more here.

• The latest edition of Testing Times has been published and is available on Amanda’s website. The focus of the latest monthly crisis communication case study is the situation affecting Travelodge. Read more here.

Diary Dates:

• The next training session Amanda is running is on Tuesday 19 May at 2pm BST and will be looking at effective crisis management.

• Watch out for some new 10 minutes with conversations coming up in the next few weeks.

Subscribe now

Firstly, as you may be reading this over Easter if you celebrate I wish you a happy Easter and if you don’t I hope you find some time to refresh and relax.

These are really difficult times that we are living through. Every day there is an announcement about an increase in the costs of something, a lack of something or fears for the future of something. Our usual lives are being squeezed in a way that we have not experienced since the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the UK there has been a ‘keep calm and carry on’ view of the situation. At times it appeared as though ‘nothing to see here’ was going to be the position that was maintained. But around the world the impact of war is being felt by people.

I have been considering what it means for communicators who are faced with talking to staff, getting prepared for issues ahead or trying to continue their usual work. Unfortunately, the message about considering what you are doing and how you can get ready for problems that may lie ahead seems to have been lost. In a polarised world the speeches have started to feel more like party political broadcasts than providing details of what to consider.

It is important that communicators don’t shy away from recognising that these are really difficult times for everyone. And the situation could become more challenging in the weeks and months ahead. Avoiding the conversation will only heighten people’s fears and concerns. So think about how you can take the pressure off. Do meetings need to be in person? Can we encourage people to keep emergency supplies on hand? Are managers able to recognise when people are struggling or concerned?

We need to be aware of people who may be finding the situation more challenging and problematic than others and provide space for people to talk about things if they want to. We need to take steps now to be ready if the situation deteriorates further without moving into panic. The focus should be on reducing unnecessary stress, supporting people, and avoiding making things worse.

Share

Words matter

Amanda wrote a blog about the importance of words and the impact they can have after sparking a X (Twitter) discussion last week. The question is whether we need to develop a new lexicon that takes on board the feedback from those who have survived or been affected by disasters and emergencies. Read the blog here.

Nottingham Public Inquiry article

Professor Lucy Easthope and Amanda wrote an article together about the information that is being publicly shared through the public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks. The revelations from the inquiry are described as ‘truly shocking’. Read the article here.

In Brief:

• The European Union has published a new strategy to tackle the rising threat from wildfires. Find out more here.

• The latest Testing Times crisis communication case study has been published. It will be found soon on Amanda’s website along with 70 others from 2020 onwards. Check them out here.

• A new report into news habits of the US has found when there is a major breaking news story most go to the news source they usually use. Read more about the report here.

• The World Health Organisation has recently published a really simple and easy to follow guide to community mapping in health emergencies. The details will benefit community mapping considerations more broadly. Find out more here.

Diary Dates:

• On Thursday 9 April Amanda will run her first free Operating ethically in PR and Comms session. The session is full but a further session will be taking place in the Autumn contact office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk to be added to the list to attend.

• 10 April - Amanda is hosting the SASIG webinar looking at Security in the Intelligence Age with two experts from NCC Group giving details. Find out more here.

• 16 April - Amanda will be considering how organisations can start to embrace the details of the Hillsborough Law/Duty of Candour before it becomes law. Get in touch at office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk to book a place. Places are strictly limited.

• 16 April - Amanda is running a webinar for the PRCA on Developing Engaging Content in the Public Sector. Find out more here.

  Subscribe now

I have been watching with horror the details that are being made public through the Nottinghamshire public inquiry. For those that have missed this in the middle of the global news this is the inquiry into the actions of agencies in relation to the attacker who killed three people in Nottingham.

What has affected me the most is not the media coverage which has been a credit to the Nottingham Post, but it is the daily views of the families that have been sharing both the details and what it means to them. It is this that has given a window into the pain and grief that is being intensified by the evidence at the inquiry. It was shocking to read Dr Sanjoy Kumar, the father of Grace O’Malley-Kumar, say on X ‘If it wasn’t for the Nottingham Post there is so much we wouldn’t know. The fact is that we have found out more from this paper than information given to us by Notts Police.’

This should not happen. I spend all my time training and responding by putting those affected by an emergency, crisis or incident at the forefront of the communication. If you don’t know what that means then listen to the experiences that bereaved families explain in public inquiries. It is something that Professor Lucy Easthope considers in When the Dust Settles. (Recommended reading.)

It is devastating to see things go so badly wrong, and more than that to see those affected by emergencies being used as human shields as organisations appear over protective. Hiding behind the trauma of others can be a cynical way of avoiding the spotlight on flawed and unsatisfactory responses and decision making. Genuinely considering the trauma and impact of situations means being honest, accepting responsibility for failings and this is important from the moment an incident happens.

All crisis communication and major incident communication plans need to be centred around supporting those affected in a real way without an ulterior motive. It is a message I will continue to share wherever and whenever possible. And let us all stop and consider what we are doing and make a promise to be better.

Share

Ethics sessions and Duty of candour training

The Ethics session that takes place in April is now full but Amanda is planning to do another free session later in the year. There are still spaces available for the Duty of Candour Readiness session on 16 April at 1pm - 2pm BST. This will consider the actions that can be taken to help your organisation be ready for when it becomes law. It will help UK public sector organisations and others who want to ensure they are putting ethics at the heart of what they do. Email office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for more information.

Strategic Awards Finalist

Amanda is delighted to be a finalist in the Strategic 26 and Most Ethics-Driven Communication Leader of the Year. She said it was a real honour to be a finalist alongside some amazing PR and communication colleagues who are making an impact through their work.

In Brief:

• A new report from UN Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has developed a roadmap to resilience that includes trust as a strategic asset. They spoke to around 100 people and 60 organisations to look at harmful misinformation, disinformation and malinformation as well as hate speech and other damaging narratives. Find out more here.

• The UK Government has announced a £12m investment to help the local media become sustainable. Find out more here.

• In a recent blog Amanda urged organisations to ensure that they can get the basics right in responding and managing crises. Read more here.

• A survey has revealed CEOs are the main group charged with leading the response to a crisis. But it also shows that they may not have received any training to support them. Find out more here.

• Private messaging apps need to face regulation to avoid the spread of disinformation according to two policy experts. Read more here.

Diary Dates:

• 1 April - Amanda is running a webinar for the PRCA about Getting Maximum Impact from a Disappearing Budget, which is as relevant now as it has ever been. Find out more here.

• 10 April - Amanda is hosting the SASIG webinar looking at Security in the Intelligence Age with two experts from NCC Group giving details. Find out more here.

• 16 April - Amanda will be considering how organisations can start to embrace the details of the Hillsborough Law/Duty of Candour before it becomes law. Get in touch at office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk to book a place. Places are strictly limited.

• 16 April - Amanda is running a webinar for the PRCA on Developing Engaging Content in the Public Sector. Find out more here.

  Subscribe now

I recently attended a webinar about collective trauma and the implications it has on crisis response and the aftercare. As I have sat watching the news this past week the points that were raised came to the front of my mind. The reality of the events today and of many situations such as the Covid-19 pandemic is that we see collective trauma. It is basically a blow to the basic tissues of social life and what binds communities.

Why is it important?

Such events have an impact on the community and to the community values that are in place. They are very public events that have a widespread impact. They are also times when misinformation and disinformation are widespread. If you are feeling the pressure of this week then some of this may be the way it is impacting on our views and values.

What can we do?

It is vital that we recognise the impact this is having on the communities we may be trying to communicate with. And if there is a crisis or critical incident that emerges how people view it may be altered because of the developments we have seen. Events may appear as though they are happening a world away but they have an impact at home with many people concerned about relatives and friends who were caught in the region when the war began or who are based in the affected countries. It was also notable that the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has highlighted the potential increased threat of cyber attacks. We need to be ready for this. There may also be further threats to supply chains and networks.

What can we do now?

1. Stay informed - be aware of the latest developments and what is verified information.

2. Review your tone - ensure public facing content is acceptable and is not insensitive.

3. Co-ordinate with HR, leadership, IT and others to understand any risks and issues.

4. Prepare statements and plans for any impact on travel, delays, safety or other relevant issues for staff.

5. Monitor social media channels for sentiment shifts or emerging risks.

This is a time when we all need to be clear we are developing trauma-informed communication and are helping not hindering at this difficult time.

Are we making a difference? Thoughts on International Women’s Day

A few weeks ago I shared the results of a survey on the experiences of women working in crisis management and resilience. If you haven’t seen the results take a look here. It is frustrating that we will see lots of positive messages about supporting women published today and over the weekend but the lived experiences of many women present a different picture to the rosy social media posts.

If we don’t value the contribution that women make we will continue to provide responses to emergencies, crises and disaster that are one dimensional. Covid-19 demonstrated how key pieces of information and viewpoints were ignored and had a direct impact on lives. So instead of posting some nice messages of support for women take a good look at your approach, policies and procedures to see if women’s voices are valued and listened to.

Share

Considering Ethics - Free Session

Amanda is running a session looking at how PR and communication can operate more ethically in the current challenging world environment. Spaces are limited to 25 and there are just a couple of spaces left for the session on 9 April. The free session is aimed at providing a safe space where people can consider situations and how they would react. Ethics is something that sounds easy until you are confronted with a dilemma in your work. Find out more about the session here.

In Brief:

• Australia is about to get an emergency alert system to warn people about bushfires, floods and other risks. Find out more here.

• New research from an academic at the University of Eastern Finland looks at the different ways people engage with information in an emergency. Read more here.

• Vice president of the EMEAA Dan Stoneking raises an important issue about the emergency manager and communicator needing to make the information accessible in an article for Homeland Security Today. Read more here.

• A new study has considered multilingual crisis communication to preparedness and response using the Covid-19 response in Finland. Find out more here.

• The European Union has published details of a new platform to detail how to approach protecting places of worship. Find out more about Faith Guardian here.

• Amanda gave some thoughts on running a business after significant challenges during February. Read more here.

Diary Dates:

• The PRCA session Developing a Communication Strategy will be run by Amanda on 11 March from 9.30am. Find out more here.

• Join Amanda for the popular Crisis Management webinar for the PRCA which runs on Thursday 12 March at 10.30am. Details about the session can be found here.

• Amanda’s next training session is on the Duty of Candour and being ready for what it means. It takes place on 16 April at 1pm BST. For more information email office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

  Subscribe now

I have been going through some personal challenges linked to proposed plans for development near my home. It has put me into full crisis response mode. Get things in place, start the response, be open, share information and the result has been people coming together. (I live in an amazing community.) But it has become really clear that many people don’t know and understand how to take part in democratic processes like objecting to planning applications.

This is a serious concern in a world where there is growing distrust of authority and polarisation within society. A cynic may say that in many cases it helps politicians and businesses that people don’t understand. In that way they can’t complain, will miss deadlines and there will be no delays. In the long term, there is a growing number of people who don’t get involved, are not likely to vote and are becoming frustrated.

It is only the years covering planning meetings as a reporter that have helped me with some of the recent issues. Another problem that has come to light is the way consultation is and is not being done. But that is for another day.

I was interested to hear from Peter Osborne a fellow PR professional who has written about his experiences addressing a local planning issue. We spoke this week and found some remarkable similarities in the experiences we are having. One of the biggest issues is a lack of understanding and engagement with the process. Some people adopt a fatalistic approach - ‘well it is going to happen anyway’. Some don’t know what to say, where to say it and how to share their views. And some try to help people navigate the challenging situation.

If people feel so disconnected to processes or have the view that they will not be listened to the impact is significant. Those with money and power will continue to operate with immunity, frustrations will grow, and who knows where this leads. It is easy to point fingers at other countries and believe they are authoritarian or undemocratic, but we can find similar problems if we just scrape the surface closer to home.

My approach is to look at what we can do to highlight the problems and to shine a light on bad behaviour. The other option well at the moment I don’t think there is one.

Share

Bad behaviour and the spotlight on PR

In a recent blog Amanda talked about a growing concern about the way PR and communication is operating. Are those working in the profession being truly ethical? Read more here.

Women in Crisis Management Survey - latest

Since the publication of the Women in Crisis Management and Resilience Survey results, there has been some discussion of what next. The Emergency Management External Affairs Association (EMEAA) shared the results in its recent newsletter. Amanda is in discussions for some more opportunities to discuss the findings and consider the next steps that are need in the profession. If you have an opportunity where Amanda can talk about the findings get in touch at office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

Last chance to join Crisis Comms Exercise

If you want a spot email office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk to grab the last available spaces.

In Brief:

• Dan Stoneking the founder and president of the EMEAA has raised the issue of people with significant experience retiring from crisis management. Find out what he says in the article on Homeland Security Today here.

• A new thesis links weak crisis communication to continued communal violence in Nigeria’s North Central Region. Find out more here.

• The Global Network on Extremism and Technology has published an article from an academic looking at the role of deep fakes in facilitating radicalisation. It follows the terror attack on Bondi Beach. Find out more here.

• A new British Standard is being considered for emergency audio communication linked to lockdown, evacuation and invacuation scenarios. Read more detailed in Fire Safety Matters here.

• A recent storm affecting Malta has led to calls for a national emergency alert system. Read more in the opinion piece here.

• The New York Times has uncovered that the Department of Homeland Security has sent hundreds of administrative subpoenas to tech companies to identify anti-ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) sentiment online. It has sparked concern about how it will be used. Find out more here.

Diary Dates:

• On 26 February at 2pm GMT Amanda is running the latest crisis exercise mentioned earlier in the newsletter. Get in touch for more information.

• Amanda is providing a webinar for the Commsfest sessions run by HQN. The session will consider the key comms risks and threats to the housing sector in 2026. It takes place on 3 March from 9.30am. Find out more here.

• The PRCA session Developing a Communication Strategy will be run by Amanda on 11 March from 9.30am. Find out more here.

• Join Amanda for the popular Crisis Management webinar for the PRCA which runs on Thursday 12 March at 10.30am. Details about the session can be found here.

Subscribe now

It has taken some time but I am able to release the details from the survey of the gender experiences among those working in emergency response and communication. There is a lot contained within the report which you can find here.

What does this mean? There has been a lot of work in this area over the years and academic studies. My approach was to try and get a view of the position and to see if my own experiences were borne out by those of others. But I am no statistician so I called on the help of data communication expert Alex Waddington from Whetstone Communication to conduct some of the more detailed analysis.

I have attempt to present as subjective a report as possible. This is a moment in time and it has identified that more work needs to be done to understand the culture and attitudes that exist within the emergency planning and response world. Perception and how situations are viewed has an important impact on the way we view work and our position in it.

If we don’t feel valued and able to contribute then we will not engage in the workplace, views and ideas will be kept hidden, and the result will lack a diversity of opinions. The Covid-19 public inquiry has highlighted the end result of women feeling unable to speak up or not being listened to. Whether the views in the survey are reality or perception is almost an irrelevance. Emergency and crisis planning and response needs to be open to all and to ensure people feel welcomed in and able to fully contribute. The main takeaway from this work is that we have to recognise there is an issue and start to talk about it so we can make a change.

If you would like to receive a copy of the research report contact office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk or view it through this link.

Share

Test your Decision-making

Amanda’s next training session is a two hour crisis simulation that will test your decision-making during a scenario. Using the Conducttr software, participants will be taken through the emerging situation, social media commentary, media enquiries and stakeholder commentary. The actions will be for the participants to decide and discussion about options and outcomes. Spaces are strictly limited to ensure attendees can get the most from the two-hour session. It is online on Thursday 26 February at 2pm. Get in touch via office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

In Brief:

• Amanda shared some thoughts on the current commentary following the latest Epstein files releases. Find out what was said here.

• The Canadian borough of Côte-des-Neiges — Notre-Dame-de-Grâce is reviewing how it communicates during emergencies after a power outage that left more than 1,000 residents without power for 72 hours. Read more here.

• The World Health Organisation has launched an mpox toolkit to support risk communication and community engagement. Find out more about it here.

• A new Europe-wide emergency communication system is being planned. The system would be designed to let emergency teams to stay connected across borders. Find out more here.

• Ohio was considering how to work with ham radio operators as winter storms hit. Read more here.

• The latest edition of Testing Times has been published with a crisis communication case study looking the ongoing South East Water situation. Check it and previous editions here.

Diary Dates:

• Amanda is the guest house for the SASIG session about Identity Threats on Friday 20 February at 11am GMT. Find out more here.

• On 26 February at 2pm GMT Amanda is running the latest crisis exercise mentioned earlier in the newsletter. Get in touch for more information.

• Amanda is providing a webinar for the Commsfest sessions run by HQN. The session will consider the key comms risks and threats to the housing sector in 2026. It takes place on 3 March from 9.30am. Find out more here.

• The PRCA session Developing a Communication Strategy will be run by Amanda on 11 March from 9.30am. Find out more here.

• Join Amanda for the popular Crisis Management webinar for the PRCA which runs on Thursday 12 March at 10.30am. Details about the session can be found here.

Subscribe now

The spectre of further conflict across Europe has been something that has been discussed for many months. It is something I have been concerned about for almost a year. No-one wants to think that it could happen or look at what it may mean. But with the words and actions coming from US President Donald Trump and the White House it feels now is the time we have to consider what a breakdown in relationships could mean for the work we do, wherever we are and whoever we work for.

I have spoken to Ukrainian communicators in the past to understand what they have had to do to survive in the horrendous conditions they face. This included an interview with Sergii Bidenko almost 18 months ago that you can watch here. The start of 2026 has shown that we must all be prepared to weather uncertainty in a way that has not been considered for a long time.

The rhetoric and speeches raise fear and add to mistrust which has been a central element of the Edelman Trust Barometer I mention in an article later in the newsletter. It is not a time for memes, tropes or soundbites. This is when trust, honesty and transparency are going to be essential and not optional. Greenland’s government have shared details of exactly what people need to do and store to be prepared for uncertain times. The reality is conflict leads to possible power outages, service disruptions, contamination threats and cyber attacks.

At the heart of these worst of times, preserving and protecting people and particularly the vulnerable or at risk remains central. Warning and informing people and moving quickly is vital and it needs strong local relationships to address misinformation, propaganda and the potential damage from misusing artificial intelligence. I have 10 points that we need to consider to be ready for a further uncertainty or conflict.

1. Build the possibility of conflict into risk and threat management understanding what it means to the business or organisation. Think the unthinkable.

2. Scenario test your readiness for conflict situations.

3. Update plans to ensure you can move quickly and that people have received the necessary training. This includes business continuity plans.

4. Strengthen local relationships.

5. Be ready to deal with the loss of power, Internet and digital services which may mean focusing on community relationships and printed materials.

6. Prepare the business to have a protection of people mindset to assist in decision making.

7. Train to ensure psychological preparedness and awareness feature in the response and the communication, and that it considers trauma-informed communication.

8. Co-create preparedness materials with communities wherever possible.

9. Establish relationships with the voluntary sector and build the involvement into plans.

10. Ensure the approach will focus on clarity, easy to understand language and that it can be relevant to whoever you are talking to whether it is staff, stakeholders or other groups.

We cannot be certain what is ahead of us but we can ensure that we have done everything possible to be ready for it and as communicators to help people through it.

Share

Duty of Candour - what the latest developments mean

This week the Public Office (Accountability) Bill or Hillsborough Law was due to return for the next stage of its progress through the Commons. But there is a sticking point and it has now been delayed. There is no date for when it will return but officials have been quoted as saying they were “not putting a deadline” on the talks. The discussion will involve the families affected by disasters including Hillsborough and the Manchester Arena attack, intelligence agencies, the Home Office and Foreign Office.

The progress of the bill and the discussions will be covered in future editions of the Under Pressure newsletter.

If you are concerned about how to be ready for the legislation there are two training sessions Amanda is running this year. Go to www.amandacolemancomms.co.uk to find out more.

The Year Ahead

You can check out Amanda’s hour webinar about what may be ahead in 2026 and actions we can take. The recording of the session from 21 January 2026 can be viewed here.

Latest reports - World Economic Forum Risk Report and Edelman Trust Barometer

The start of January has seen a flurry of reports that have been published that are relevant to communicators and those working in crisis preparedness and response. The World Economic Forum Global Risk Report 2026 has identified the risks that are considered the most serious.

Unsurprisingly geoeconomic confrontation and state-based armed conflict are the biggest risks those working in risk management foresee ahead.

This report was swiftly followed by the Edelman Trust Barometer that has highlighted the continued pressure on trust and how it is pushing people into a more insular position. People move to distrust anyone who is different which connects with the polarisation we are witnessing in society.

What does this mean for us working on the frontline? We have to rethink how we approach communication at a time of uncertainty. With the impact of artificial intelligence and misinformation, people are looking for the human connection to cut through. This means investing in building local relationships and using the community networks that exist.

We have to think the unthinkable to ensure that we are prepared for what may be ahead. People had become comfortable that life was kept on a relatively even keel, then the pandemic shook things up and now we are seeing further disturbances in situations and institutions we have taken for granted.

Amanda is addressing these issues in training and in the programme of sessions planned for 2026.If you have any views on this get in touch with Amanda at amanda@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

22 crisis communication training sessions

Amanda has brought together details of the 22 crisis communication training sessions that she has run through the past three years into one brochure. The sessions are available to access and any organisation wanting to arrange a session can find out more by getting in touch with office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

You can find out more about the sessions that are available from risk, response through to recovery here.

In Brief:

• The Journal of Medical Internet Research has published a study into public emotional responses to major emergencies on social media. One of the conclusions is that practitioners need to tailor risk communication to cultural expectations. Find out more here.

• In a recent blog Amanda wrote about the ethical challenges facing communicators in the year ahead. Read more here.

• X (Twitter) has suffered another outage last week which has prompted concerns about the operation of the platform. Read more here.

• Worcestershire County Council in the UK has been testing communication in the event of a power outage. Find out more here.

Diary Dates:

• 26 February - Crisis Communication Exercise - Amanda is running the popular session to consider the decision making during a scenario. Spaces are strictly limited. Get in touch at office@amandacolemancomms to book a space.

Subscribe now

Artificial intelligence is often discussed as well as misunderstood and when we talk about the risks related to it the usual discussion is about jobs. But what preparation should we be making to be prepared for an AI emergency. I started thinking about this after reading an article published in Time magazine at the start of the year. (Find it here.) When an AI emergency occurs communication is going to be under pressure in a way that hasn’t yet been grasped.

I spend a lot of time on training sessions talking about the challenges of cyber attacks and power outages, of how we need to avoid putting all our focus on digital channels, and of preparing now as the number of cyber attacks continues to rise. The impact of AI means cyber attacks are becoming easier and easier to launch. What do communicators need to consider to prepare for an AI emergency?

One of the big issues people are wrestling with is what can be trusted as well as who can be trusted. It can be seen every day on social media as AI generated videos continue to show situations that have not and could not happen but still people believe them. If systems were failing and false information was circulating how could it be addressed? Who would lead on the response? What role would we all have to take? It is why the article talked about the need to develop a playbook that would have considered all these issues and provided an answer that has then been tested. AI issue will not be restricted by borders, just as cyber attacks can and do go global, so that creates a huge challenge particularly with the international incidents that are challenging governments.

When the technology starts to fail it also means channels, emergency broadcast systems and ways we communicate are not available. So here are my five actions we need to do now.

1. Consider what an artificial intelligence emergency could mean to you and your business.

2. Ensure you have ways to implement face-to-face and analogue communication when an emergency occurs.

3. Understand how you are viewed and what your reputation is so you can identify ways to build trust before a crisis happens.

4. Plan and prepare to respond even when the involvement of artificial intelligence may not have been confirmed.

5. Start the discussion about the impact and implications of an artificial intelligence emergency.

It may not feel as though this is an issue we need to be concerned about now but if it happens it will affect us all and the impact will be significant. The start of 2026 is a good opportunity to revisit plans and risk management documents to ensure you are ready for the year ahead.

If you would like Amanda’s help to review your plans and approaches, and the risks you have identified get in touch at amanda@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

Share

Crisis communication in 2026: a free webinar

The first few days of 2026 have given us all an insight into the uncertainty and chaos that may lie ahead. Now more than ever we need to make sure we are ready to respond to what may happen. It is easy to feel either that we can do nothing against the tide of difficult situations or that we can just respond when it happens. But preparation is essential, avoiding complacency and considering the current and future situation. If you want to know more join me on the free online webinar looking at the year ahead for crisis communication. Details below

If you want to find out more about the training sessions Amanda is running in 2026 check the dates and subjects out on the website here or email office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for more information.

Crisis Comms Lessons from 2025

If you missed a review of the 10 learning points Amanda identified from last year, they are provided again here.

Handy crisis comms support booklet

Having easy access to the key pieces of information to help your response is essential. If you want to get a copy of my guide which provides some key points alongside space for your details get in touch at office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

In Brief:

• As the first anniversary of the Los Angeles wildfires happens, an article looks at the lessons from the response including gaps in staffing, co-ordination and evacuation. Read more here.

• Emergency Services Times has shared a conversation Amanda hosted at last year’s Emergency Services Show considering resilience. Find out more about the conversation here.

• Time features a fascinating article looking at an AI crisis where it could develop without being obvious and then the AI role starts to emerge. Read more here.

• Amanda published a blog just into the new year highlighting a risk from the overuse of the word ‘unprecedented’ read more here.

• The Atlantic Council has published an article that details the developments in Latvia’s defence and security approach. This includes providing public information to boost resilience. Find out more here. In another article Lithuanian officials were assessing damage to undersea cables between the country and Latvia. Read more here.

• Weather warnings and the need for them to be listened to is a significant challenge, and the American Psychological Association has detailed some of the key issues highlighted in recent research. Read more here.

• The first Testing Times case study of the year can be found here and looks at the challenge of risk perception and communication.

Diary Dates:

• As mentioned above, Amanda will be running a free online webinar looking at the year ahead. To book a place for the event at 1pm on 21st January click here.

• The first training session takes place on 26 February and will be a crisis communication exercise where you can test your decision making with a fictionalised scenario. Spaces are limited so early booking is advised. Contact office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for more details.

Subscribe now

This will be the last Under Pressure for 2025 and I hope that you have found the newsletter interesting and perhaps even useful during the past 12 months. I want to thank you for your support during the year as we continue to drive to improve crisis communication. There is still a chance to join me in conversation with Professor Lucy Easthope on Tuesday 16 December (see below) and to be in with a chance of winning a bundle of my books (check social media).

In a week that has seen Sir Keir Starmer join TikTok despite a ban on it by the Government we continue to be reminded of how unpredictable the world is. My focus in the coming months will be to shine a light on the ethical activities and approaches to crisis communication that are essential, and to continue to look to the integration of trauma-informed communication. A key word is empowerment - of people, of communities, of staff. But more of that in the months ahead.

Have a safe and enjoyable holiday and for anyone working I hope you have some moments with loved ones.

Best wishes

Amanda

What Santa can teach us about crisis communication 🎅

We all need to learn from others and as we head to the festive season there is one man who may be able to help us all with our crisis communication - Santa Claus. His work may be focused on one day in the year but there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes.

It starts with Santa preparing for the worst all year round. He has contingency plans and this included drafting in Rudolph to use his special skills to help the sleigh fly. Preparations take place throughout the year to ensure the one day that everyone focuses is successful.

He also knows his audience and demonstrates that he listens to them and shows empathy. Santa comes face-to-face with people in shopping centres, listens to what they want and reads all the letters. He has a good understanding of what matters to them. He also is consistent. Santa shows up every year and whether you see him in a shopping centre or coming down a chimney his brand and approach is always consistent.

Every good crisis response needs a trusted team to make it happen. Santa has Mrs Claus, the elves and the reindeer who all play their part to make sure that everything happens as it should. Of course, Santa is very clear of his values and never loses sight of his brand and the visible signs including the white beard and red suit.

He provides the best example of ‘you said, we did’ communication. You ask for a gift and he and the team make it happen. Santa shows up every year, builds trust and does what he says he will. This is not just communication ‘talk’ as he is a man of action. The message is simple ‘he comes to town’, ‘he knows if you are awake’, ‘he knows if you have been bad or good’. I wish more crisis messaging had such a simplicity to it. And as we continue to talk about the duty of candour and ethical communication, Santa provides transparency as he does not hide the naughty list.

Santa Claus’ approach builds trust, shows empathy, provides clarity and is based in preparedness and more than that he does this every year. We could all take some lessons from Santa for our own crisis communication plans.

I hope that you have been good this year and will be on the nice list. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Share

New Disease Communication Guidance Published

Researchers at Kings University have published a Trust, Accessibility, Partnership, Inclusivity and Empowerment (TAPIE) toolkit which is available on www.gov.uk as part of the national Communicable Disease Outbreak Management Guidance. They are inviting feedback on it from practitioners. Check it out here.

Children and Disaster Communication Research Findings

Amanda spoke to disaster researcher Maciej Pawlik for the latest #10minswith interview. Maciej has been looking at how primary school aged children view messaging about disaster preparedness. It is interesting for everyone working in crisis, emergency and disaster communication. Watch it here.

Training Update

If you are planning training for 2026, Amanda is running the sessions below. Bespoke training requests can also be accommodated so just get in touch at office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

In Brief:

• The latest Testing Times crisis communication case study of 2025 looks at some key points from the issues during the year. Read it on Amanda’s website here.

• UNESCO has launched a disaster preparedness model focused on media institutions. Find out more about it here.

• Elon Musk posted on X (Twitter) that he will provide Starlink internet services for free after flooding and landslides in Sumatra. Read more here.

• Check out Amanda providing some thoughts on resilience as part of a recent Blue Light Hub webinar alongside experts in behavioural communication and storytelling. Watch here.

• A new study published in Nature looks at the dynamic collaboration networks evident in crisis communication during Covid-19 response in China. Find out more about the study here.

• Amanda talks about the importance of having IT support as a small business to be ready for any problems ahead. Watch the discussion here.

• If you are interested in the trends for 2025 in Google searches the details have been published. Charlie Kirk’s killing was one of the most searched news items globally alongside Iran and the US government shutdown. In the UK the fourth highest ‘how to’ search was ‘how to turn of emergency alerts’ which should be a concern to everyone working in emergency preparedness. Read more here.

• The FBI has issued a warning about how criminals are operating in relation to fake kidnapping scams and the use of social media images. Read more here.

Diary Dates:

• There is still time to register to join the latest webinar where Amanda will be joined by Professor Lucy Easthope for a conversation about being crisis ready and looking back at 2025. It takes place on Tuesday 16 December at 6.30pm and is free. Register to join here.

• On 21 January 2026 at 1pm UK time Amanda is running a free hour long online webinar about crisis communication issues and what to be prepared for in 2026. There will be an opportunity to ask any questions of Amanda about crisis communication, issues management, risk, resilience and recovery. If you want to register to join find out more here.

Subscribe now

March 2020 was a major moment which challenged everyone and particularly the political leadership around the world and in the UK. Last week we had the publication of the Covid-19 public inquiry report which has raised many issues for communicators that should not be ignored.

The report does include the voices of the bereaved at the start which is important as what follows is about real decisions and the real impact that they had on real lives. This is essential for us all to remember when we work with high risk and high stress situations on a daily basis.

As I read the report there were so many points in the Chapter 12 on public information that should be shared and understood to inform the future. The fact that before the lockdown there was a focus on handwashing which remained even though it had marginal impact on the spread of the virus. The fact that there was confusion through different approaches around the UK. The fact that the ‘stay alert, control the virus, save lives’ message was labelled by Prof David Halpern as ‘the worst possible combination’ of anxiety, no clear call to action, and implication of the rules changing. The fact that sign language was not used for Boris Johnson’s press briefings because it would ‘require additional cameras and operators to be present’.

This was a challenging time but there were some simple points that should have been known and most importantly we have to be sure this would be approached differently in the future.

Here are my top takeaways from reading the report:

1. Communication during a major crisis or disaster is complex and messaging needs to reflect this and be open, explanatory and take people on a journey through the situation and aftermath.

2. Risks need to be clearly explained to people and preferably before any disaster emerges.

3. Trust is essential throughout crisis communication and is an operational requirement.

4. Learn from others when considering the response particularly to a widespread situation eg the pandemic should have considered approaches to communication in other parts of the world and taken the good practice.

5. Prepare for the political impact of crisis situations and how it may impact on the communication. (This is something that I will be covering with colleague Dee Cowburn in a future webinar.)

6. Be aware of the signs and symbols during a long term crisis. For example, stopping daily press conferences in August 2020 gave the impression the pandemic was under control.

7. Build inclusive communication into everything that you do. The report highlights digital exclusion as well as challenges for deaf and disabled people. All these can be considered and prepared for ahead of any emergency.#

The only way this or any other public inquiry can make a difference is if we all take on board what it says, what it found and what that means for the future.

Share

🎁Festive book bundle giveaway🎄

With December just round the corner, Amanda is offering two opportunities to receive a bundle of all three of her books. To take part just like, share the posts mentioning the giveaway on LinkedIn, X or Blue Sky, or follow the accounts. In a separate giveaway there will be book bundle provided at random to one of the subscribers to this Under Pressure newsletter.

Let people know and receive some extra reading material for the New Year. (The giveaway will run from 1 to 14 December with the winners chosen on 15 December.)

2026 Training Plan Launched

The training plan for next year has been published. Amanda has new sessions looking at the Duty of Candour and Tackling Misinformation and Disinformation. She is also joining forces with crisis communication consultant Dee Cowburn to focus on the political dimensions of crisis communication. Find out more here.

There are also regular favourites of crisis communication exercises and crisis messaging. Spaces are limited so email office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for more information or to book a space.

Watch out for a free online hour long webinar about Crisis Communication in 2026 session on 21 January 2026. Details will be shared soon.

In Brief:

• Amanda recently shared some thoughts for Emergency Services Times on her time at the National Police Chief’s Council conference particularly related to the role of communication. Read more here.

• A survey has revealed continued problems for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. It includes being able to access information in emergencies and get vital public health information. Find out more here.

• The Centre for Disaster Philanthropy has published its 2025 report. The report shows disaster philanthropy has declined but more is needed as the nature of disasters becomes more complex and frequent. Read more here.

• The International Atomic Energy Agency brought together experts in nuclear and radiological communication to discuss the issues and challenges as things are rapidly developing. The role and impact of artificial intelligence was central to the discussion. Find out more here.

• Students raised concerns about the Saint Louis University’s Department of Public Safety after communication problems following a recent shooting incident. Find out more here.

• Emotional attachments to artificial intelligence can be exploited according to a new study that warns about the implications if scammers get involved. Read more here.

• A new study has highlighted the importance of psychological safety at work particularly when there are crisis situations to manage. Find out more here.

• You can revisit a conversation between Amanda and Steph Bridgeman looking at audio-visual communication at a time of crisis. Watch it again here.

Diary Dates:

• On 5 December at 1pm Amanda has been invited by Emma Ewing of Big Fish Training to join a webinar looking at lessons from 2025 and what it means to improve crisis communication in 2026. Find out more here.

• Monday 8 December at 12.30pm Amanda will be sharing some thoughts on the CAN Digital led session considering how to overcome barriers to building resilience. If you are interested find out more here.

• There is still time to register to join the latest webinar where Amanda will be joined by Professor Lucy Easthope for a conversation about being crisis ready and looking back at 2025. It takes place on Tuesday 16 December at 6.30pm and is free. Register to join here.

Subscribe now