WikiLeaks: Who’s Next?

Published by Sally on December 8, 2010 in Reputation Management. 0 Comments

Regardless of one’s views about WikiGate, one thing is certain : WikiLeaks has changed information-sharing forever. Moreover, technological advances and emerging social platforms will continue to facilitate the gathering and distribution of information once held secret. There is no going back, and companies need to be prepared.

About half of the documents in the organization’s possession concern the private sector, WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange told Forbes in a recent interview. Earlier this week, Bank of America’s shares declined 3 percent following rumors that WikiLeaks will release internal documents in January.

David Chamberlin, MSLGROUP, New York

On the heels of the Forbes coverage, Fast Company interviewed crisis communications officials on what companies can do to protect themselves. One of the people interviewed was David Chamberlin, senior vice president and director of Issues & Crisis Management, MSL New York. Here are some quotes from David, plus some related articles from MSLGROUP.

Living Good Corporate Values Everyday

• “Your values need not only be what you talk about but what you live out through your fingertips.”
• “Consumers will forgive mistakes, but they will rarely absolve an organization that doesn’t behave responsibly.”

Preparing for a Crisis

• “No matter what you make, sell or serve, your organization is a potential target for data theft that can place all your valuable relationships at risk.”
• “Managing your reputation is not about spin and is not a job to be left to public relations professionals. It is a management function that must begin at the top.”

Indeed, the WikiLeaks phenomenon provides an excellent backdrop for a discussion on corporate value systems and consumer trust. For past MSLGROUP articles on these topics, please see:

Value for All : A Corporate Constitution

Performance with Purpose

Trust Breakdown, Trust Refresh : A Lesson from Banks

Bankers Vs. Banksters : Back to Better Times

Are You a Vanguard Company?

Is Your Brand Like Dorian Gray?

What impact do you think WikiLeaks will have on the private sector? We are interested in your opinion.