Kelsey Boudin was an award-winning journalist before founding Southern Tier Communications Strategies and Grand River Agency. As a reporter and editor for a mid-sized group of newspapers for many years, he covered numerous PR crises. He recently chimed in with an op-ed in the Olean Times Herald on PR crisis lessons gleaned from the recent St. Bonaventure Men’s Basketball NIT debacle.
(Read the original op-ed in the OTH: PR Lessons from Bona Hoops Debacle. Read it at the Grand River Agency blog: OTH Column: PR Crisis Lessons from Another Bona Hoops Fiasco.)
What Can PR Pros Learn from the Bona Hoops PR Crisis?
Let’s unpack some invaluable insights from the latest PR crisis in college sports. Kelsey brings his wealth of journalistic experience to dissect the Bonaventure athletics department’s missteps.
He also offers valuable takeaways for PR professionals and business leaders alike. These public relations strategies should be part of any well-rounded organizational communications plan.
(Related reading: 8 Proven Strategies from a Former Journalist to Improve Public Relations.)
Lessons in Timing
Timing is paramount in the world of public relations. The delays in communication surrounding the Bona men’s basketball team’s controversial decision not to play in the NIT only served to exacerbate speculation and frustration among fans. Social media accounts spiraled several times – for hours – without an official acknowledgment or explanation from the SBU athletics department.
This lack of timely and transparent communication created an atmosphere of secrecy and incompetence, leaving supporters (and SBU athletics boosters) feeling alienated and uninformed. Kelsey emphasizes the importance of avoiding a PR crisis with timely communication, reminding business leaders not to leave followers hanging when they demand – and deserve – a response.
Lessons in Honesty
Kelsey also reminds business leaders to shore up their communications strategies with honesty and openness. While honesty is a cornerstone of effective PR, attempting to be selectively honest can backfire spectacularly. The delayed release from St. Bonaventure’s athletic department attempted to justify the team’s decision with a litany of reasons, but fans saw through the thinly veiled excuses.
Kelsey stresses the importance of authenticity and transparency, even when the truth may be uncomfortable. Building trust and credibility requires a commitment to honesty, even if it means delivering unpopular answers.
Lessons in Accountability
In the midst of a PR crisis, organizations often resort to deflecting blame and shifting attention away from themselves. Attempts by the St. Bonaventure athletic director to blame external factors only served to worsen the situation. By failing to take accountability and assign blame where it was due, the athletic department further eroded its reputation and credibility.
Kelsey underscores the importance of acknowledging mistakes, taking responsibility, and working toward meaningful solutions.
Learning What Not To Do From the Bona Hoops PR Crisis
Former journalist Kelsey Boudin highlights the inadvertent lessons provided by SBU athletics over the years, offering valuable guidance for navigating PR challenges.
PR crises offer valuable learning opportunities for communications professionals in the field. By analyzing past mistakes and case studies like the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball debacle, PR professionals and business leaders can glean invaluable insights into what not to do in similar situations.
If your organization seeks guidance on PR strategy and crisis management, don’t hesitate to reach out to Grand River Agency.
