Which item is NOT typically included in a crisis communications alert tree?

• A. Roles and levels for escalation
• B. Timelines for updates
• C. Approvals for statements
• D. A list of media outlets to contact

Answer: (D)

A crisis communications alert tree is about the internal flow of decision-making and who is responsible for escalating, updating, and approving messages during a crisis. It establishes clear roles and levels for escalation so the right person steps in when thresholds are met, sets timelines for when updates should be provided to stakeholders, and requires approvals for statements to ensure accuracy and consistency before they’re released. A list of media outlets to contact belongs to external outreach planning and a separate media contacts directory; including it in the alert tree can slow decisions and mix governance with outreach targets. So the item that isn’t typically included is the list of media outlets to contact.