NCPRSA Events
PR Dialogue: The First Hour
- 421 N Harrington St, Raleigh
This session explores the critical “first hour” of crisis response through a unique dual lens: legal counsel and strategic communications.
In today’s hyperconnected media environment, organizations no longer have the luxury of time during a crisis. Within minutes, incidents can spread across social media, attract traditional media attention, and shape public perception — often before all the facts are known.
This session, sponsored by E&V Strategic Communications, explores the critical “first hour” of crisis response through a unique dual lens: legal counsel and strategic communications. Presented jointly by an attorney and senior communications professional, the discussion examines how alignment between legal and communications teams can determine whether an organization controls the narrative — or spends days/weeks/months trying to recover from it.
Attendees will gain practical insights into how legal and communications teams can work together before, during, and after the first hour of a crisis, including:
- Preparing organizations before an incident occurs
- Managing decision-making and messaging under extreme time pressure
- Balancing legal risk with reputational risk
- Avoiding common blind spots between attorneys and communicators
- Deploying coordinated first-hour response strategies that protect credibility and trust
This session will provide information to improve preparedness, strengthen cross-functional alignment, and respond more effectively when the pressure is highest.