Crises in the Digital Age

By Michael Fertik, CEO and Founder, Reputation.com

As world leaders and visionaries convened in Dalian for the World Economic Forum's Summer Davos event, I was struck at how many of them, from such different backgrounds and in such diverse roles in business, finance, governance, and media, were keenly interested to learn how to manage and understand crises in the digital age. Whether it was a climate change expert from Tokyo or a crisis communications specialist from India, they shared one thing in common: an eager desire to understand crises specifically in the context of the Internet and how it spreads information, misinformation, rumor, innuendo, and fact. 

For some of the leaders who attended the event, the Internet still seemed like a "new" or "foreign" tool. Fortunately, they were eager to learn more and become proficient as soon as possible. They recognized that no matter which region of the world they hail from or which industry they work in, the Internet is an indispensable source of information that they must learn to navigate vigilantly.

This year in Dalian, senior business leaders connected to corporate crises in various regions of the world, senior political leaders directly involved in national or global crises (including, for example, the disaster at Fukushima), senior media practitioners who cover such events, and communications experts wanted to know how they could better understand the Internet and its impact on crises. Specifically, they speculated on the Internet’s influence on spreading various kinds of information during a catastrophe, its use of science and rigorous data-driven approaches to mapping the disasters, and how to use technology to help inform the public and manage such events.

The World Economic Forum has undertaken an important project to classify and understand serious risks facing the world through its Risk Response Network projects. Launched this year, the RRN provides private and public sector leadership with an independent platform to better monitor, prepare for, respond to and mitigate global and systemic risks. Unsurprisingly, it can provide the framework for the discussion of a host of different crises. With the speed at which the Internet absorbs information and the breakneck pace at which social media channels spread it, I can’t help but wonder what our conversations will be like around this same topic at Summer Davos 2012.

What are your thoughts on crises in the digital age? I’m interested to hear from you. Please send me your ideas on Twitter, @MichaelFertik.