Your Royal Reputation – And How To Preserve It
In this fast turning media world reputations are won and lost overnight. With the spotlight last week on doping issues at one of the world’s best known horse racing stables, it was a matter of hours before Godolphin’s reputation took a battering worse than Becher’s Brook on Grand National Day – and that’s despite an erstwhile royal reputation befitting its princely owner, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates.
The stench of more than just horse manure is sure to linger.
And whilst we all love a good race horse, they’re best kept on the course and away from our dinner plates. Recent revelations that the UK’s teatime favourite, the humble beef burger, has become the Lance Armstrong of the food world, has driven a coach and horses through food safety issues. The scandal has raced across Europe revealing a continent-wide breakdown in the traceability of food in the supply chain, with ever-more beef products testing positive for horse meat and other interlopers – with or without banned veterinary drugs to boot.
So what are the food safety experts telling us?
That test results indicate food fraud rather than an immediate health risk
That Europe is seeking a continent-wide solution – we’re in this together
That tighter controls, stiffer sanctions and higher penalties are coming
It’s all fairly reassuring. We’re in crisis, but action is being taken.
Rebuilding reputation post-catastrophe is challenging. From the outset damage limitation is key. Releasing the right statements, at the right time, via the right channels can minimise fallout. That means preparing now; being ready to meet the crisis head on from day one by engaging with the media and social media.
There’s help to be had and new media skills to learn, but if you need coaching, learn from the Godolphin crisis – be sure to engage a ‘trainer’ that knows the rules…
