Effective Crisis Resolution

Expanding from this topic we dealt with in class, I thought I would deal with a specific individual who recently has come into the public spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Justin Bieber the Canadian singer has been in the media lately not for his musical talent but rather for dealing with controversial issues such as drink driving, spitting on fans and egging his neighbour’s house. In 2011 to deal with the accusation of one woman who claimed Bieber was the father to her child, he hired Matthew Hiltzik of Hiltzik Strategies to deal with this rumour.

In order to quell this rumour and as part of an effective crisis resolution, Bieber appeared on “The Today Show” to put an end to this. He issued a statement during the interview.

I’d just like to say, basically, that none of those allegations are true. I know that I’m going to be a target, but I’m never going to be a victim (FoxNews 2011).

In order for Bieber to recover from the bad press he has recently gotten due to his lavish lifestyle he needs to take responsibility for his actions, just as VHI organising the women’s mini marathon had to retract their statement saying a blind woman was not allowed a male assistant, they had to own up to their mistake. They fixed the problem by changing their policy to allow male assistants for those in wheelchairs or for the visually impaired.

Reacting fast and appropriately to bad press is essential in order to move on from it in the best light. Apologising gains sympathy from the public and shows a certain amount of maturity in owning up to the mistake. In the case of Bieber he needs to remind the public of why he became famous in the first place, by producing music, using social media accounts to indicate to his fans that he is back at what made him famous in the first place will get him back in headlines for the right reasons and is significant in moving on from any PR disaster.

References:

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/11/04/justin-bieber-hires-crisis-management-team-to-deal-with-paternity-scandal/http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/11/04/justin-bieber-hires-crisis-management-team-to-deal-with-paternity-scandal/

http://www.businessinsider.com/justin-bieber-as-crisis-pr-president-more-marketing-success-of-justin-bieber-2011-11?IR=T