For Godstone Farm manager Richard Oatway, it really is a case of better late than never when introducing media relations to combat the unwanted publicity ( Public Relations Melbourne ) storm surrounding his farm. A good public relations agency have their work cut out for them if they want to change the public’s perception ( PR agency ) of the popular attraction, currently blighted by an outbreak of E.coli.

Unless effective media relations are introduced, from this point on the fun and friendly farm loved by both children and parents, will be forever overshadowed by the recent outbreak of E-coli and the poor way in which the situation was communicated and managed from the start. In times of crisis, the public rely on honest and straightforward communication, something which shockingly was not done in this case, even though young children were at risk of being exposed. By not closing the farm after the first strain was reported, forty-five children all under the age of ten are thought to have contracted the dangerous O157 strain of the bug, twelve who need hospital treatment.

Understandably the public ( Publicity PR ) and parents of the children involved are outraged as to why the farm stayed open two weeks after the first case was reported. Believe that the transaction was closed as a precaution, the epidemic could be limited and contained. In the words of Tracy Mock whose twin boys are in hospital after visiting the farm: “If they had just shut the place down to investigate, my sons would not be in hospital on kidney dialysis machines”, which brings home the reality of the situation.

Even though the farm can debate that they did their bit by putting up hand-washing marks outside the animals’ pens,the matter about the reason of the farm wasn’t closed earlier is one which won’t go away and one which needs to be said. claimed that they took ‘reasonable measures’ at the stated that they took ‘reasonable measures’ at the time of discovery, something which would be laughable if it wasn’t for the 18,000 people who may have been unfolded to the virus.

Health PR consultants is fundamental for restoring public confidence in the farm. The first damage was done, but not too late to recover the reputation of the place, communicating what has been done to improve the situation. The Court has learned a valuable lesson, albeit undesirable, reputation is everything and no help and advice of public relations consultants to announce the location, the rear of the public is not a second thought, if something goes wrong.

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