Handling a Crisis as Demonstrated by Delta Airlines

A few weeks ago, some PRSSA and PRowl members had the opportunity to attend the PRSSA ICON conference in Grapevine, Texas. This was an amazing experience where we had the chance to network, bond with each other, and gain professional knowledge through the many speakers that shared their expert insights.

The Delta Airlines session particularly stood out to me, during which we heard from Savannah Huddleston, the general manager and CEO of Communications, and Gina Laughlin, the vice president of Global Employee Communications. The airline industry was hit particularly hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, so keeping communication clear for all stakeholders was a key aspect of keeping the business afloat. Therefore, they focused on their communication strategy during this time and talked us through how their strategy helped them keep employees and customers safe and informed throughout the pandemic. This of course meant getting as many employees vaccinated as possible, and at the present time, 95% of employees are. Not everyone was initially willing to get vaccinated, so Savannah and Gina’s goal became to ease worries. By communicating medical expertise, using targeted communications, creating anonymous office hours with Delta’s Chief Health Officer, and not mandating vaccinations, they reached this high number.

During the midst of the pandemic, Delta was still ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among airlines by J.D. Power. This is largely due to the efforts that the communications team implemented.

What was stressed throughout this session was that communication is never more important than during a crisis. Here are some tips that they gave for handling one and coming out stronger:

· Put “chips in the bank” early

· Know your audience

· Create and maintain strong channels

· Lean on trusted leaders

· Good storytelling is a must

· Say thank you – recognition is easy and costs nothing

Apply these tips to your future communications career!

This blog was written by Reilly O’Neill, Director of Digital Communications

Temple University’s PRSSA to Host 2023 Mid-Atlantic District Conference, PRacticing Sustainability

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Temple University’s Public Relations Student Society of America to Host 2023 Mid-Atlantic District Conference, PRacticing Sustainability, April 8

PHILADELPHIA (Nov 4, 2022) – Sustainability within public relations is at the forefront of this year’s PRSSA Mid-Atlantic District Conference “PRacticing Sustainability," Saturday, April 8, 2023 hosted by Temple University’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and it is open to students and professionals from the Mid-Atlantic region.

The conference will explore all aspects of sustainability within public relations including environmental, social, human, and economic. Attendees will be able to interact and network with speakers from various backgrounds and participate in sustainable activities throughout the event. For more information, visit www.templeprssa.org or email Rachael Dickson, Conference Coordinator at rachael.dickson@temple.edu.

“We are so excited to host a conference for the entire Mid-Atlantic district that will take an innovative look at PR,” stated Chloe Maher, Temple PRSSA Chapter President. “Sustainability is essential for the future of our industry and we're excited to educate the next generation of leaders in the field!” Sustainability is an ever-growing concern within the public relations field and this conference will make attendees aware of its significance throughout their careers.

More information will be announced as programming and other themes are developed. ABOUT TEMPLE PRSSA Temple’s nationally-recognized PRSSA is the largest and longest-standing chapter in the Philadelphia region, and one of the oldest student chapters in the country celebrating its 54th year. The goal of the chapter is to prepare its more than 120 members for a career in the public relations field through its commitment to leadership, networking and mentorship.

Contact Information: General Inquiries: Email: TemplePRSSA@gmail.com Rachael Dickson Lead Conference Coordinator Email: rachael.dickson@temple.edu Zoe Tucker Assistant Conference Coordinator Email: zoe.tucker@temple.edu Natalie Devlin Assistant Conference Coordinator Email: natalie.devlin@temple.edu

Press release written by Rachael Dickson, Lead Conference Coordinator

Give Thanks All the Time

Now that we are in the month of November, we’re growing closer to one of the best holidays of the year, Thanksgiving, where we gather with our close friends and family and eat a wonderful meal to show our appreciation for what we are graced to have in our lives.

However, it is important to realize that being thankful should be a year round practice and not just once a year. We all have a lot of blessings to count that need to be noted on more days than just one. This thankfulness translates into showing genuine passion, which can be very helpful as a public relations professional.

When in contact with anyone, whether it be a client, the agency or firm you work for, or any other member of the public, showing your genuine thankfulness goes a long way. If you are truly appreciative of someone doing a favor for you, being cooperative and kind, or lending a helping hand in any way, say thank you! Those two simple words go a long way, and they help you to look like an honest and caring communicator.

Another great practice is sending thank you notes. Sometimes, it’s nice to take that extra step and type up or write up a note from the heart to someone you appreciate. It’s a gesture that people recognize and enjoy more than you would think.

I’m not suggesting that you put on an act and show fake appreciation or “over-appreciation.” However, taking the time to show that you really care about people more than one day out of the year goes a long way; they always say if you have nothing nice to say, then don’t say anything at all, but I say if you have something nice to say, go ahead and say it. Public relations is all about honest and open communications, which means positive emotions are more than welcome in order to show that you really care about a client, coworker, friend, family member, or anyone else.

This blog post was written by Gavin Joyce, Vice President