Is Your Company's Reputation At Risk?

Press Release

16 AUGUST 2012

Is Your Company's Reputation At Risk?
A new book explains how to avoid communication pitfalls and minimise legal risk

A new practical legal guide addressing the challenges of managing a company’s reputation in today’s increasingly complex media environment is now available to New Zealanders.

Authored by media lawyer and Simpson Grierson partner Tracey Walker, 'Reputation Matters: A Practical Guide to Managing Reputation Risk', was launched to a packed audience in Auckland last night.

Published by CCH, the book explains legal issues relating to reputation management and protection, covers key aspects of the law and corporate communication, and provides tips on how to avoid communication pitfalls to minimise legal risk. A chapter identifying potential risks posed by new media is also included. Tracey Walker comments:

“The sheer number of media sites in today’s communication age means that companies are exposed to reputation attacks from multiple sources across multiple platforms. It is more profitable to manage reputation than to mop up damage after a crisis, but when the crisis occurs there is almost inevitably a legal dimension – it could be an event with potential regulatory consequences which has triggered the crisis or the communications strategy itself may create legal exposure.”

“Corporate reputation is an intangible and invaluable asset, and a greater vigilance than ever is needed to protect and manage it. Understanding the legal issues and an awareness of the red-flags helps to manage the crisis and the risk to reputation"
The book is a practical guide for New Zealand communications managers, public relations practitioners, online community managers, lawyers in private practice, corporate counsel and anyone charged with managing the company’s reputation. Simone Bell, CEO of PRINZ comments:

“It is a privilege for the public relations and communication management industry in New Zealand to have access to this resource. The book provides a practical, legal perspective to many of the issues our members deal with daily. When the communication and legal teams work together to build reputation, respond to an issue and protect reputation, the client always benefits from the combined counsel.”

“Tracey has drawn on her incomparable body of knowledge, which I believe, will ensure the book is a well-thumbed guide on many desks across the country.”

The book is available from CCH for $126.50 (incl. GST).

Notes to editors

Tracey Walker is a partner in Simpson Grierson's media litigation team with over 20 years' experience advising media corporations on reputation management and intellectual property enforcement issues.

Simpson Grierson is a full-service law firm providing advice across all areas of commercial law. We have over 370 people, including 48 partners and more than 230 lawyers in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. We are New Zealand's only member of Lex Mundi and are a co-founder of the Pacific Rim Advisory Council.

www.simpsongrierson.com

About PRINZ
The Public Relations Institute of New Zealand is a not-for-profit, member organisation for approximately 1,000 public relations and communications management practitioners. Through a number of activities PRINZ seeks to advance the professional practice of communication.
PRINZ delivers a programme of professional development including training, a career planning system; RIVER, globally recognised accreditation; APR, an annual conference, a senior practitioners event and industry awards. It also runs the prestigious annual Communicator of the Year award and publishes the NZ Guide to PR consultancies.

ENDS

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