Kudos to CNN News who aired the video footage only once on the sixth anniversary of 9/11 of the four planes plummeting into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, PA! CNN is the only network who refused to replay the video coverage of the plane crashes repeatedly throughout the day. In my opinion, they are the only news network that knows how to remember the victims of 9/11 appropriately!
We are all wounded by the tragedies that occurred in our nation on September 11, 2001 and will never forget what happened. It is forever engraved in our thoughts. CNN realizes this, yet recognizes the need to pay tribute to the victims of this tragedy. 9/11 brought out some good that we forgot existed - people taking good care of eachother.
CNN spent most of today paying tribute to all of the heroes of 9/11, family members & friends who are left behind, and the current state of international affairs particularly in the middle east.
A lesson to those managing communications (PR) in the midst of a crisis. It is necessary to address the realities of the crisis, resolve any or all issues where applicable, and pay respect to those who deserve it. However, it is equally important to guide your audience towards the hope of the future and not to repeatedly rehash the devastating realities of the crisis (or tragedy).
Let CNN's honorable decision to play the video coverage from 9/11 only once on the sixth anniversary of this horrible tragedy be a great example to you as you develop & implement your crisis communications management plan!
