What to Say When the World is Ending

Kate Childs Graham and Jeff Shesol presented to a packed house at this year’s SXSW. They encouraged attendees to ditch old school crisis comms for a more proactive, principled approach. Listen to their full presentation.

This is the new reality: In the face of intersecting, overlapping, near-constant catastrophes, leaders are called not only to react, but to proactively address the crises of our day. That certainly goes for politicians—but also for CEOs and industry leaders, who are expected to take a stand on wars, plagues, and injustices, as well as democracy and the freedoms it protects.
There is no one-size-fits-all formula for effective communications in the face of crises. But at the renowned speechwriting firm West Wing Writers, veteran White House speechwriters Kate Childs Graham and Jeff Shesol craft messaging for thought leaders across every sector, every day. Together, they’ll present proven strategies to help you find messages that meet your organization’s needs—and meet the moment.