Crisis Communication Think Tank holds second annual international symposium

The Crisis Communication Think Tank (CCTT) marked its second year of transatlantic collaboration by convening its International Symposium on Monday, September 22, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Hosted in partnership with the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR), the gathering brought together leading global scholars and practitioners to navigate new dimensions of crisis management under the unifying theme: LEAP—an acronym representing Leadership, Evaluation, Alignment, and Precision.

Building upon the 2024 theme of READINESS, the 2025 Symposium focused on implementing action-oriented strategies to cultivate resilience in an increasingly complex global environment. The theme reflects the continuous, interconnected nature of READINESS, preparedness, and resilience. Opening remarks were delivered by CCTT director Yan Jin, University of Georgia, and CCTT international co-director Toni van der Meer, University of Amsterdam.

Global Dialogue on Strategic Crisis and Risk Management Foundations

The Symposium featured four dedicated sessions corresponding to the four dimensions of the LEAP framework, each guided by leading academic and industry voices. These sessions emphasized that READINESS is a dynamic mindset built on adaptability and anticipation, not just procedural preparedness.

Leadership: The Challenge of Adaptability and Authenticity

The LEADERSHIP session included experts Pablo Halpern, Julien Radart and Yijing Wang, with Timothy Coombs as the Lead Respondent. Discussions highlighted that authentic leadership is audience-centered, demanding transparency and empathy to build credibility and trust. A key takeaway was the necessity of mental mobility in crisis response—making decisions quickly and adapting communication strategies without full information. Building READINESS requires an organizational culture that supports flexibility and learning from experience.

Evaluation: Assessing a Multidimensional Mindset

The EVALUATION session featured Hans Mogensen, Silvia Ravazzani, Kristien Vermoesen and Raf Weverbergh, with Amitabh Verma as the Lead Respondent. The dialogue moved beyond documentation, asserting that crisis READINESS should be assessed at three levels—individual, team, and organizational. A dynamic assessment approach was advocated to capture evolving conditions and observable indicators of adaptability and stress resilience. Reflection and self-awareness were cited as critical indicators of personal preparedness.

Alignment: Bridging Legal Caution and Public Trust

The ALIGNMENT panel included An-Sofie Claeys, Patrick Conner and Kate Lavail, with Jason Epstein as the Lead Respondent. Experts affirmed that alignment must be built before a crisis, not during it, through consistent engagement between legal and communication teams. The discussion centered on the tension between legal caution and communication’s emphasis on transparency. The consensus was that while over-disclosure risks legal exposure, under-disclosure erodes public trust.

Precision: Targeted, Context-Specific Communication

The final pillar, PRECISION, was addressed by Martin Riecken, Elina Tachkova, and Chiara Valentini, with Joe Watson as the Lead Respondent. Precision was defined as an evolving discipline rooted in preparation and intentionality, not perfection. The session emphasized that crisis communication must be targeted, context-specific, and tailored to fit audience needs and cultural nuances. Panelists noted that while technology aids precision, the strategic shift requires a focus on placing authoritative, long-form content in AI outputs.

Advancing the Global READINESS Conversation

Following the LEAP sessions, attendees participated in a READINESS Roundtable Discussion led by Yijing Wang, Torsten Rössing, and NaYoung Song. This session reinforced the need for READINESS measurement development and generated new insights for integrating cognitive reasoning, emotional intelligence, and ethical judgment in shaping readiness-oriented crisis leadership.

The 2025 CCTT International Symposium reaffirmed the power of cross-sector, interdisciplinary collaborations among thought leaders in academia and industry,advancing crisis communication research, education, and practice on a global scale.

Torsten Rössing, a CCTT practitioner member in Germany, regarded the READINESS model as “a game changer for crisis communication” and shared the experience of DPRG (German Public Relations Association) members in applying it to regular communication management and crisis situations, demonstrating “a continuous willingness to deal effectively with risks, conflicts and uncertainties.”

Author: Nayoung Song, nysong@uga.edu