This presentation was given by Spitfire Strategies at ComNet15, The Communications Network annual conference. The presentation was part of the pre-conference workshop, Communications Apocalypse: How Will You Respond When the Zombies Attack? The workshop was led by Beth Kanter, Spitfire Strategies.
5. Are
you
a
large
organization
that
doesn’t
have
its
internal
systems
buttoned
down?
Are
you
affiliated
with
organizations
that
find
themselves
frequently
in
the
line
of
fire?
Are
the
Zombies
After
You?
Does
your
organization
or
your
issue
have
strong
opposition?
Is
your
issue
polarizing
or
controversial?Is
your
issue
“popular”
or
hot
on
the
agenda?Does
your
organization
get
frequent
media
attention?
Are
there
high
profile
people
on
your
board
or
affiliated
with
your
organization?
6.
7. Scan
and
track
§ Websites
§ Email
lists
§ Social
media
Tactics
Assets
Case
Studies
Who
Are
These
Zombies
Anyway?
15. KEY FACTS
about the latest attacks on Planned Parenthood
1. Anti-abortion groups have released highly edited
videos that make outrageous and completely false
claims that Planned Parenthood “sells” fetal tissue.
2. Planned Parenthood helps patients who wish to
donate tissue, just like other health care providers
do, legally and with compassion.
3. Planned Parenthood does not profit in any way from
these donations.
4. Donated tissue is used for scientific research that can
help lead to medical breakthroughs, such as treat-
ments and cures for serious diseases like Alzheimer’s.
5. The real goal of these attacks is to ban abortion and
limit access to health care at Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood is the most trusted sexual and reproductive health care
provider in the country, offering high-quality care for nearly 100 years.
23. Let’s
Recap
• Team
-‐ Who’s
ready
to
go?
• Risk
– What
could
happen?
• Message
– What
are
you
going
to
say?
• Strategy
– How
are
you
going
to
deal?
25. Affect
Your
Reputation
Impact
Others
Media
Frenzy
Backlash
from
Partners
Funder
Support
Social
Media
NONONONONO
YES Ready
Yourself:
You
Are
In
A
Crisis!
Congratulations,
it
is
not
a
crisis!
26.
27.
28.
29. • Gather
facts
• Convene
team
• Tailor
plan
• Monitor
• Execute
plan
How
to
Respond
to
a
Zombie
Attack
31. Release of
attach
videos July
14th September
10th
Timeline of
immediate
response
Within
12
hrs. 24
hrs. later
Counterattack in
immediate
response
Bogus
group Long-‐term
smear
campaign
Defense in
immediate
response
Patient
stats
Fired
employees
&
reviewed
internal
practices
Apology in
immediate
response
No
apology No
apology
32. When
was
the
CEO’s
response?
2
days
later 8
days
later
What
was
the
CEO’s
response?
• Video
• Apologized
for
tone
• Condemned conduct
• Doesn’t
represent
ACORN
Calls
for
support?
• Multiple
emails
to
supporters
• Petition
to
Congress
• Social
media
• Allied
org
letter
Press
release
with support
from
8
partner
orgs
20
days
later
33. Press
Outreach
• Immediate
outreach
to
media
• Columns
in
papers
such
as
Wash
Po,
LAT
CEO
gave
an
interview
to
FOX
News
10
days
later
Policymaker
Action
• Bill
to
defund
PPFA
failed
in
the
Senate
• State
investigations
turned
up
nothing
Bill
to
defund
ACORN
passed
Legal
Action Threatened
to
sue
CMP Sued
filmmakers
Final
Result Ongoing,
but
all
signs
point
to
yes Closed
and
disbanded