PSM Crisis Preparedness Toolkit

Public service media (PSM) operate in an increasingly volatile risk environment shaped by climate change, geopolitical instability and escalating cyber threats. As the most trusted source of news across Europe, PSM play a vital role in maintaining public information and societal stability during crises, making operational resilience a democratic responsibility.

As part of the EBU’s 2026 strategic priorities, we are supporting our Members in strengthening their crisis preparedness across a range of potential disruptions, including large-scale technical failures, energy shortages, cyber incidents, and natural disasters.

The Handbook aims to strengthen crisis preparedness governance, help Members identify potential gaps in their resilience structures, and provide inspiration from established best practices and real-life case studies across the EBU community. It was developed through a combination of Member interviews, a dedicated survey conducted across the membership, external research, and internal expertise within the EBU. Together, these elements provide a practical and evidence-based foundation to support Members in their crisis preparedness efforts.

The 10 Lessons Learned from Organizations Under Pressure summarizes 10 key lessons learned by PSM executives, for PSM executives.

The Casebook complements the Toolkit, demonstrating how PSM strengthen readiness and continuity in times of disruption. Featuring real-world examples, it showcases resilience in emergencies, risk assessment, and essential service maintenance, while exploring practical approaches across key preparedness areas, including staff wellbeing, training, governance, redundancy systems, resilient distribution, public alerting, and dedicated programming.

This toolkit marks the start of a dedicated series exploring crisis preparedness in depth.

Don’t hesitate to contact us to join the discussion, submit case studies, or request support.

Have a look at our topic page for more information and related publications and events.