{"id":28464,"date":"2023-04-13T10:01:40","date_gmt":"2023-04-13T10:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newonclusivstg.wpengine.com\/?p=28464"},"modified":"2026-05-21T13:37:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T13:37:41","slug":"managing-controversy-in-the-media-with-an-adaptive-communication-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onclusive.com\/en-gb\/resources\/blog\/managing-controversy-in-the-media-with-an-adaptive-communication-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing Controversy in the Media with an Adaptive Communication Strategy\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n \n\t\t\t
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As <\/span>PR<\/span> &\u00a0Comms professionals, it is our job to protect and enhance the reputation of our organisation, its products, and its leaders. This means detecting a reputation crisis before it even arrives. <\/span>But<\/span> what <\/span>should you <\/span>do when political agendas <\/span>shift,<\/span> and <\/span>global events <\/span>shine a negative light on your industry?<\/span> PR & Comms teams need to be able to <\/span>m<\/span>onitor<\/span> controversy <\/span>surrounding<\/span> their <\/span>CEO and<\/span> underst<\/span>and <\/span>how to adapt<\/span> their communication strateg<\/span>y<\/span> accordingly<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t

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What is in the <\/span>CEO Index Report – UK?<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Onclusive recently launched a <\/span>CEO Index<\/span><\/b><\/a> that monitors the media coverage of the leading CEOs of US and European based companies. The CEO of BP, <\/span>Bernard Looney, has topped the Index as the business leader with the most media mentions in the UK<\/span><\/b>, with an impact score of four out of a possible ten. This is largely due to BP\u2019s annual results in February, revealing a profit of \u00a323bn – mirroring\u00a0the worldwide trend of soaring energy prices linked to the war in Ukraine. Mr Looney\u2019s pay package more than doubled to \u00a310m, which certain media labelled as a \u201ckick in the teeth\u201d for consumers battling the cost-of-living crisis.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

BP CEO was closely followed by Wael Sawan (CEO of Shell plc), who has been mentioned regularly in the media regarding Shell\u2019s record breaking 2022 profit of \u00a332.2bn.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As\u00a0large oil and gas companies, BP and Shell\u2019s leaders can expect to face regular criticism relating to the environmental impact, safety,\u00a0financial performance, or overall management. However, with more scrutiny of energy companies in the wake of the\u00a0climate crisis, the increased cost of living,\u00a0and calls for greater windfall tax, many believe engaging with controversial publicity rests firmly on the shoulders of PR and Comms professionals.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t

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Controversy in the media can have a significant impact on a PR strategy<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The impact of bad publicity on a brand means you must adapt your communication strategy quickly to avoid adding fuel to the fire:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n