The first day of a crisis sets the tone for trust, accuracy, and speed. This quiz focuses on holding statements, fact‑gathering, spokesperson protocol, and channel coordination in the first 24 hours.
What belongs in a holding statement issued early in a crisis?
Speculation about causes and blame
Only a slogan with no information
Extensive technical detail before confirmation
Verified facts, empathy for those affected, and a promise of timed updates
Who should speak for the organization in the first 24 hours?
Multiple executives speaking independently
Anonymous staff via social replies
A single, trained spokesperson aligned with the incident lead
Only outside legal counsel on background
Before going public, which step best reduces errors and retractions?
Wait 48 hours to avoid risk entirely
Centralize facts and approvals through the crisis team with legal/compliance review
Crowdsource statements from employees
Let each function post their own update immediately
Where should you direct reporters and stakeholders for the latest facts?
Only third‑party news coverage
A single source‑of‑truth page or newsroom post that you update
Different links per channel with varying info
A private document by request only
Which action helps control rumors during the first day?
Set up active monitoring to flag and address misinformation
Ignore social chatter until the final report
Turn off all inbound channels
Delete all comments without reading
For a cyber incident update, which phrasing is most appropriate early on?
Promise exact timelines you can’t guarantee
Describe what systems are affected and what users should do now, avoiding unconfirmed causes
Speculate about the attacker’s identity
Share personal data details to ‘prove transparency’
What is the “golden hour” in crisis communication?
The initial window when acknowledgment and first facts shape the narrative
A legal deadline to assign blame
The hour when the CEO must personally post on social
A 24‑hour quiet period with no statements
Which internal step should occur before external posting?
Let employees learn from the news cycle first
Brief employees with key messages and escalation routes
Share detailed customer data internally
Forbid staff from asking questions
Which reply is preferable to “no comment” when facts are limited?
“No comment.”
“This is overblown; ignore it.”
“Off the record, here’s what really happened.”
“We’re investigating and will share an update by [time]; here’s what we can confirm so far.”
What artifact helps maintain consistency across channels in the first day?
Separate scripts for every team with different facts
A raw chat log of internal debate
An approved Q&A/FAQ with key messages and updates
Only a slide deck for executives
Starter
You know the basics. Revisit holding statements, one‑voice protocol, and where to host canonical updates.
Solid
Good tempo and accuracy. Tighten monitoring, internal briefings, and update cadence to cut rumor and confusion.
Expert!
Crisis pro. Your first‑day playbooks balance speed with verification, empathy, and coordinated channels.
