RichardHorsman.com

The world has just gone pear-shaped, and the last person you want to face right now is a journalist.

But you can be sure that, just when you really want no publicity, that's exactly what you're going to get. If your first call is from a detective, a fire officer or an injured customer -the second will be from a newsdesk.

Find out why you should never say "no comment".  Learn how to turn the negatives into a more balanced account of what's happened. Give the media access to what they need, when they need it, in a form even the laziest hack can't fail to include in their report. Know your rights, and how to complain effectively.

Develop a "bad news" disaster plan. Make sure all your staff at all levels know what to do, just like a fire drill. Keep a sense of perspective. Start planning now.