PRSA Tampa Bay's February Program Focuses on Social Media Crisis Management
Posted on Feb. 26, 2015 / Subscribe 0
By Megan Doherty, President of the University of South Florida's PRSSA Chapter
Tampa Bay PR professionals gathered together at the Brio Tuscan Grille Tuesday, Feb. 24 for a PRSA luncheon featuring Chief Jane Castor and spokesperson Laura McElroy from the Tampa Police Department. The sold-out event focused on social media and crisis management with the primary question being: “Could Twitter Prevent Ferguson?”
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| PRSA Tampa Bay President Marissa Segundo, APR with Chief Jane Castor and Laura McElroy |
As large plates of salad topped with chicken, strawberries, and grapes were passed out, Chief Castor and McElroy eloquently addressed the positive and negative effects social media plays in the depiction of a crime and its investigation. McElroy posed questions to the group about the Ferguson shooting; could the department have prevented public unrest and riots if they had released the video of Michael Brown assaulting a cashier at the Kwiki Market moments or if it had released photos of Officer Darren Wilson’s injuries. She advocated releasing information so the public has a complete picture of the events leading up to shooting.
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| Chief Castor discusses crisis management and dealing with the media. |
McElroy explained that police departments can’t hold all of their information close to the vest.
“The public has a right to know what is happening in their community,” McElroy said. “Without compromising the investigation we have to give the citizens that information.”
McElroy then showed a series of examples in which Chief Castor and TPD had to practice transparency while maintaining the integrity of their investigation. One such incident was the death of fallen officers Jeffrey Kocab and David Curtis, who were killed during a routine traffic stop. The public and media were hungry for information on the incredibly sensitive subject, which the department provided while continuing to search for the alleged shooter.
McElroy explained her big dog theory: “The media is like a dog that eats all of the time. If you don’t feed it, it’ll get into your garbage.”
McElroy went on to discuss she has helped position the Tampa Police Department as a model organization. From police officers escorting skateboarders to skating zones on National Skateboard Day to viral videos of officers lip syncing to the song “Call Me Maybe,” McElroy has emphasized the approachability of the TPD and how the officers care for the citizens they are sworn to protect and serve.
Save the date:
The next PRSA Tampa Bay luncheon will take place on Mar. 25. The subject will be “Bienvenidos a Cuba: What An Open Cuba Means for Tampa Bay Communicators,” with speaker Bill Carlson, President Tucker/Hall.
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