In this FIR Interview, co-host Shel Holtz talks to Christian Gunning, director of Corporate Communications for Boingo, which provides wifi service in airports across the US.

On Saturday, April 10, an email meant to be used as a test was inadvertently sent, sometimes repeatedly, to Boingo customers. The company’s social media manager saw customers talking about it on Twitter, leading the company to deal quickly with the issue, reaching out to customers through a variety of channels.

Gunning discusses the use of the company’s home page as well as its blog, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to keep the problem from escalating into a full-blown crisis.

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About our Conversation Partner

As Boingo’s director of corporate communication, Christian Gunning is responsible for the public relations, social media, marketing communications and web asset functions. He is blessed with a talented team of professionals who make his job a joy. He has been with Boingo since its inception in 2001, and has served in product management, product development, marketing communications, public relations, and myriad other roles as necessary during its startup phase.

Before Boingo, he served as director of public relations for eCompanies, a technology start-up incubator, and has also worked for networking, software and semiconductor companies in various senior roles at Shandwick International (via Miller/Shandwick Technologies) working with companies such as Microsoft and Compaq Computer in the US and in Singapore. He got his start in the industry at Manning, Selvage & Lee working on the California Lottery and California Department of Forestry. Christian has a BA from the University of Southern California’s School of Journalism, where he also served as an adjunct professor teaching PR for the Internet and High Tech.

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This FIR Interview is brought to you with Lawrence Ragan Communications, serving communicators worldwide for 35 years. Information: www.ragan.com.

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(Cross-posted from For Immediate Release, Shel’s and my podcast blog.)