Risk mitigation. Social media crisis management. Online reputation defense. Whatever you call it, it matters. Two-thirds of global CCO’s cite crisis management experience as a core prerequisite for business success, according to a recent survey by Weber Shandwick and global executive search firm Spencer Stuart. That’s double the number that identified it as a priority five years ago.

Issues and crisis management require new strategies in the digital age. No longer can companies expect to survive a firestorm by calling a press conference and launching a dark site. The expectations of a globally minded, social-savvy consumer require nimble and quick responses from companies — and that necessitates coordination and preparedness on behalf of corporate communications/PR, legal teams, HR, marketing, R&D and the C-suite.

Today, in the first of an occasional webinar series in partnership with HootSuite University, Executive Vice President of Digital Communications for North America David Krejci presents the basics of digital defense for corporate reputation management. But the principles apply equally well whether you’re a small non-profit, an industry association, a growing start-up or an established global company. Download the webinar here - it’s available for free  until July 4, 2012, and after that will become part of the curriculum library for all HootSuite University students.