What is Crisis Communications?
Crisis communication refers to the communication systems, protocols, and technologies in place that enables an organization to effectively communicate both internally and externally during any major critics or threat faced by the business. Crisis can include major natural disasters, cyber-attacks, product failures, corporate mistakes, PR incidents, reputation crisis, and so on. Crisis communication is critical for reducing the impact of the crisis on the company's operations and public image.
How is Crisis Communications used?
Zippia reviewed thousands of resumes to understand how crisis communications is used in different jobs. Explore the list of common job responsibilities related to crisis communications below:
- Co-created and implemented a proprietary system to train front-line supervisors in crisis communications to enhance and protect the company's reputation.
- Streamlined and developed crisis communications processes to improve response times and manage company reputation among customers, media and elected officials.
- Led cross-functional and divisional teams in establishing enterprise crisis communications protocol and social media guidelines.
- Prepared the organization for effective future crisis management by authoring it first crisis communications manual.
- Developed robust crisis communication plans to mitigate actions by environmental and other activist groups.
- Formulated crisis communications responses surrounding product recalls and congressional hearings investigating lead in jewelry.
Are Crisis Communications skills in demand?
Yes, crisis communications skills are in demand today. Currently, 1,016 job openings list crisis communications skills as a requirement. The job descriptions that most frequently include crisis communications skills are vice president, corporate communications, chief communications officer, and public relations and communications director.
How hard is it to learn Crisis Communications?
Based on the average complexity level of the jobs that use crisis communications the most: vice president, corporate communications, chief communications officer, and public relations and communications director. The complexity level of these jobs is challenging.
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What jobs can you get with Crisis Communications skills?
You can get a job as a vice president, corporate communications, chief communications officer, and public relations and communications director with crisis communications skills. After analyzing resumes and job postings, we identified these as the most common job titles for candidates with crisis communications skills.
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Job description:
A vice president of corporate communications is an executive professional who is responsible for developing and executing communications goals and strategies for an organization. This vice president must manage advertising campaigns to improve the organization's brand awareness and ensure that consistent messaging is delivered across all platforms. The vice president must lead cross-functional and divisional teams to develop crisis communications processes to manage company reputation among customers, media, and elected officials. The vice president must also serve as the primary contact for all external communications with media and non-profit organizations.
- Crisis Communications
- Press Releases
- External Communications
- Investor Relations
- Issues Management
- Executive Communications
Chief Communications Officer
Job description:
A chief communications officer oversees internal relations and researches public employees. Most of the chief communications officers spend a massive amount of time interacting with the chief marketing officers of their organization. They are responsible for management issues and may offer risk management in industries that are prone to hazard, risk, and product failure. They provide wise counsel to the senior team whenever major decisions are debated. They act in many ways as representatives of many publics who are not in the room when these decisions are made. These officers also help the organization translate strategy to action.
- Crisis Communications
- External Communications
- CCO
- Press Releases
- Community Relations
- Strategic Communications Plan
Public Relations And Communications Director
Job description:
The public relations and communication director is an executive professional who is responsible for directing the public relations department within an organization as well as managing a staff of PR and communication managers. This director must work with media outlets to publish company information while ensuring the consistency of their communication strategy. The director is required to increase online supporters by building and sustaining online communities and managing the social media community. This director must also collaborate with the marketing department to develop plans related to advertising, marketing, and promotion.
- Press Releases
- Crisis Communications
- External Communications
- Community Relations
- Strategic Communications
- Communications Plan
Media Relations Manager
Job description:
A media relations manager is in charge of devising strategies to raise brand awareness through media communications. Their responsibilities typically revolve around creating newsletters and print materials, identify media opportunities, assist in writing communication materials such as speech and press releases, and maintain positive relationships with the media. One may also handle social networking platforms, develop new marketing concepts, and manage media campaigns. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the staff to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
- Press Releases
- Strategic Communications
- External Communications
- Crisis Communications
- Web Content
- Corporate Communications
Director, Corporate Communications
Job description:
Corporate communications directors are responsible for supervising all official communications for their organization, including emails, press releases, responses to media inquiries, and through other formats. As top-level managers, they oversee middle managers and work with a communications staff, ensuring that all communications deliver a consistent message that is equivalent to the corporate philosophy and branding. Their duties include analyzing communications strategies and policies to examine their effectiveness. Also, they set up and implement communications policies and determine official formatting for documents. Additionally, they collaborate with different departments to ascertain communications' needs and develop plans to resolve those needs.
- Corporate Communications
- External Communications
- Press Releases
- Strategic Communications
- Crisis Communications
- Employee Engagement
Public Affairs Officer
- Press Releases
- Public Affairs Guidance
- Crisis Communications
- Strategic Communications
- Community Relations Programs
- Press Conferences
Media Relations Director
Job description:
A Media Relations Director spearheads and oversees the brand image and overall media relations of an organization. They are responsible for making advertising and marketing decisions, setting goals and guidelines, establishing budgets and timelines, managing and coordinating directors, liaising with internal and external parties, delegating tasks among teams, and developing strategies from planning to execution. A Media Relations Director leads and encourages staff to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
- Web Content
- Spokesperson
- Crisis Communications
- Press Conferences
- Communications Strategies
Public Relations Director
Job description:
A public relations director is an individual who is employed to design and implement marketing strategies that can cultivate the relationship between a company and the media. Public relations directors collaborate with the internal team to boost brand awareness and maximize brand consistency in all advertising efforts. They must arrange interviews and press releases so that they can promote their company and its products or services. They also maintain relationships with the media and should manage sensitive issues to maintain the company's good reputation.
- Press Releases
- Web Content
- Pr Campaigns
- Crisis Communications
Public Relations/Communications Manager
Job description:
A public relations/communications manager is responsible for handling media commitments and the dissemination of information across various platforms. Public relations/communications managers coordinate with the marketing team to enhance the company's brand image to the public and develop strategies that would increase the company's revenues and close more client deals. They also identify cost-reduction techniques and identify business opportunities by conducting data and statistical analysis from the market trends. A public relations/communication manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in monitoring the information system and guide the team for maximum productivity and efficiency.
- Press Releases
- External Communications
- Web Content
- Blog Posts
- Crisis Communications
How much can you earn with Crisis Communications skills?
You can earn up to $83,101 a year with crisis communications skills if you become a vice president, corporate communications, the highest-paying job that requires crisis communications skills. Chief communications officers can earn the second-highest salary among jobs that use Python, $115,086 a year.
| Job title | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Vice President, Corporate Communications | $83,101 | $40 |
| Chief Communications Officer | $115,086 | $55 |
| Public Relations And Communications Director | $123,145 | $59 |
| Media Relations Manager | $86,031 | $41 |
| Director, Corporate Communications | $104,820 | $50 |
Companies using Crisis Communications in 2026
The top companies that look for employees with crisis communications skills are ZOOM+Care, Cornerstone OnDemand, and Danaher. In the millions of job postings we reviewed, these companies mention crisis communications skills most frequently.
Departments using Crisis Communications
| Department | Average salary |
|---|---|
| Marketing | $77,124 |
5 courses for Crisis Communications skills
1. Crisis Communications
Crisis Communications is designed to empower professionals with the knowledge and skills to effectively navigate and respond to crisis situations through interviews...
2. Crisis Management: Learn Crisis Communication Skills
Every organization occasionally has a crisis, problems or disasters to manage. In this course learn more about how to handle press and public relations on such occasions. Crisis communication is a sub-specialty of the public relations profession that is designed to protect and defend an individual, company, or organization facing a public challenge to its reputation. Communicating during a crisis is one of the most important elements of a workplace crisis.. Precise, timely and relevant information is critical during any crisis and emergency. It is suggested that crisis communication should be an integral part of an effective communications plan. In this course, you'll learn the process of preparing your organization to communicate with employees, customers, suppliers, media, and the public at large. We'll cover identifying audiences, assembling a crisis response team, crafting an initial statement, and evaluating your response once the crisis has passed...
3. Public Relations: Media Crisis Communication
Do you want to know the main principles of crisis communication? Are you looking to devise your own media crisis communication method?If so, this course is perfect for you. You will learn exactly how to manage crisis communication in an effective manner, keeping everyone informed and preventing the spread of confidential information and false information. Uncertainty is commonplace within all industries, especially in this ever-changing world. No matter what type of business you manage, you need to be immune to all forms of crisis. As well as a divisive strategy that will resolve the crisis in due course, you also need to have a good crisis communication plan. You will learn some basic principles of general communication too, arming you with the ability to receive criticism in a positive way and deliver messages that are clear, informative and useful to all that are listening. Whilst crisis communication is the main topic of the course, you will also learn some general crisis concepts too. The introductory lectures will advise you on what a crisis looks like, the different types you may encounter, and how you can plan to resolve them quickly and efficiently. Such plans also require a bespoke skillset, so this course will run you through the traits that every leader should have when it comes to crisis management. This course's content is tailored for business leaders, but it can be used by anyone looking to improve their leadership skills in general. Being a good leader means embracing uncertainty, whilst also having an effective plan to tackle uncertainty in all its forms. Whether you're looking to create a crisis communication strategy, understand why crisis communication is important, or are hoping to boost your communication skills as a leader, this course has something for everyone. Testimonial"Alan, most of the time it is hard to get honest replies from people about the content of my communication, and how I can become better at what I do. Thank you very much for your professional advice and help - I really appreciate it." - Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, The UK's most successful Paralympic athlete...
4. Public Relations: Media Crisis Communications
Public Relations during a time of crisis. Imagine that a crisis hits your organization and that you come out on top in the media. You initiate proactively to the media. You have a clear and easy-to-understand the message. And you get the exact quotes you want in the final stories. You didn't pick or plan the Public Relations crisis, but you are ready to communicate effectively. Your reputation doesn't just remain intact; your reputation has improved! You will learn how to prepare and deliver messages to the media in a time of a Public Relations crisis. How to plan for press conferences, media statements, messages, and sound bites will be covered. Why it is essential to prepare for a crisis before you know when or what the crisis will be. Crisis communications Public Relations requires a plan that covers every aspect of message development, rehearsal, and media management. This course is ideal for CEOs, PR managers, crisis managers, and anyone who is responsible for the reputation of an organization. What will students achieve or be able to do after taking this Public Relations course?*Be able to Manage Crisis Communications*Know how to appear Confident on the Camera*Prepare Messages*Speak in Sound Bites*Handle tough questionsWhat do Udemy students say about this Public Relations course?5 Stars! Covered all the essential elements necessary to handle crisis communications with brevity and clarity. I especially liked the Bonus materials and of course, the video. Referring to one major case study to get the points across is very effective. The only reason I did not give this a 5-star rating is because I believe this course will be more helpful if there were video transcripts or if each video lesson can be downloaded and saved for later reference or review. Thank you. Helga Melgar5 Stars! This course is an excellent introduction to how crisis communications works and TJ gives tips on how a company can best preserve its image and reputation should it go through a crisis. I would recommend this course to others. Margaret Lovell5 Stars! I've learned from TJ for a number of years and he absolutely knows what it takes to work with the media and win! Janet Vasil5 Stars! The instructor gave very clear and practical advice. He made me come to love Crisis Communications even more! Abi-Gail Johnson5 Stars! Someone once said advice is only as good as the amount you pay for it. this course disproves this. This clear unambiguous advice given is priceless. The BP breakdown was excellent, in short, if you're in a position where you need to understand crisis management, this is the course to start with. The bonus materials are really good as well. Alan MillerThere is a 100% Money-Back Guarantee for this Public Relations course. And the instructor also provides an enhanced guarantee. This course also helps students learn about the following topics: Delivering bad news to customers and the media, big picture thinking - thinking like a CEO, and how to be seen in the media as a purpose-driven leader and a vigilant leader. Enroll in this public relations course today!...
5. Public Relations: Crisis Communications Oil and Gas Industry
Public Relations: Imagine the worst: an explosion or leak has hit your operations and now the news media are swarming around you. But now imagine yourself looking poised, facing the toughest questions and getting the exact messages and quotes you want into the final news stories. You will not become another Tony Hayward! This course is for oil and gas industry executives who may have to face the media during a Public Relations crisis. You will learn exactly how to look comfortable, prepare messages, answer questions and speak in sound bites. You will learn how to avoid disastrous sound bites and off message quotes that have cost other energy companies billions of dollars in market cap in the past. You will be prepared to face the media in the future if and when you suffer a Public Relations crisis. The BP Gulf disaster cost that company tens of billions of dollars in market cap, in part, because of how poorly their executives handled the media during this Public Relations crisis. You can learn from their mistakes. TJ Walker has conducted media training and Public Relations crisis communications training workshops for oil and gas industry executives from the Middle East to Texas to around the world. He will give you real world examples of exactly what to do and not do during a crisis. If a disaster hits your refinery, tanker, or well, the whole world is going to see it. The media will come calling. You must have good answers to fair questions. No comment will be interpreted as the guilt of negligence and environmental lawbreaking. And bad answers will generate headlines around the world, especially if you claim that you want your life back! You can't control all events surrounding a crisis and you can't control the media's questions, but you CAN control your message, your answers and your sound bites. If you are an energy executive, you owe it to yourself, your career and your company's brand to sign up today for the Crisis Communications Training for Oil and Gas Executives Course. A crisis could hit your oil and gas industry or energy operations today or even tonight at Midnight. don't let another second go by without preparing yourself for the media that might soon surround you. There is a 100% Money-Back Guarantee for this Public Relations course. And the instructor also provides an enhanced guarantee. Here is what Udemy students say about this course: Educative, and I wish all engineers take this course Obeng Yeboah Paul''This has been a wonderful and detailed learning experience into the world of crisis communications. Thank you for the detailed structures and planning advice.'' Gary PotgieterThis Public Relations course is ideal for anyone searching for more info on the following: public relations - pr - public relation - press release - communications - public relations course - public relations strategy - public relations: media crisis communications - press release writing - media relations. Plus, this course will be a great addition to anyone trying to build out their knowledge in the following areas: crisis management - media training - reputation management - nonverbal communication...