For an organization packed with public relations experts — the P.R. branch has at least 300 members — the academy finds itself in these tempests rather frequently. Its lurching responses to the #OscarsSoWhite uproars of 2015 and 2016 drew criticism. On a smaller scale, the academy has been roughed up over its coming museum; the adoption of a code of conduct; and leaks about an internal sexual harassment investigation.

To be fair, the academy has a hamstrung staff. It is hard to quickly respond to a clamoring news media with a 54-member board looking over your shoulder. Lots of important people have opinions about what to say and what not to. Some academy stalwarts still believe the best way to handle inquiries is to ignore them: We will issue a news release when we are ready.

That technique worked in 1982. Like it or not, this is the age of insta-news.

Jason Blum, whose Blumhouse Productions has Spike Lee’s acclaimed “BlacKkKlansman” arriving in theaters on Friday, predicted that the revamped Oscar telecast would make more sense once the academy provided more details.

“The changes they made are great,” he said, “but the messaging could certainly have been better.”