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Today’s Lesson for Schools: Crisis Communications as a Solution

By Thom Fladung, Hennes Communications Today’s assignment: Search “crises and schools” in a Google news search. You’ll find 382,000 results. Here’s a quick headline sample: A Crisis of School Absences Mental health crisis in schools: 4 ways educators can take action Report: Schools Won’t Recover from COVID Absenteeism Crisis Until at Least 2030 Crisis In […]


Want to Survive Your Next Crisis? Have a Plan

By Thom Fladung, Hennes Communications Only 49% of U.S. businesses report they have a formal crisis communications plan, according to Capterra’s Crisis Communications Survey, conducted in January 2023 with 243 U.S. business executives, all of whom held leadership positions of director or above. Another 28% said they have an informal or undocumented crisis communications plan – although […]


Is the CEO Really Your Best Crisis Spokesperson?

From our friend and colleague in Australia, Tony Jaques… Who should speak in a crisis? That deceptively simple question can help determine whether an organisation’s reputation is enhanced or irreparably damaged when things go wrong. And behind that question are two common errors in crisis management. The first error is the idea that “speaking with one voice” […]


Does the Boss Need to Weigh In on the War in the Middle East?

From Emma Goldberg, writing for The New York Times… After reading the details of Hamas’s attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, Brad Karp, who runs the law firm Paul, Weiss, sat at his computer and wrote a memo to his roughly 2,000 employees. He didn’t ask the firm’s spokesman to draft it; he channeled his […]


Lessons From a School on Handling a Social Media Crisis

By Thom Fladung, Hennes Communications Whether in-person or virtual, the kids are still in school.  For the moment, however, this will be a class for the adults – and class is now in session on how to handle a social media crisis. On a Labor Day Sunday some time ago, the leadership team at a school […]


Should Legal Advice Take Precedence in a Crisis?

Our good friend and colleague, Dr. Tony Jaques, is a prolific writer and commentator on risk, issues and crisis management.  Based in Melbourne, Australia, he consults and has written three books in the field, also producing his must-read newsletter, Managing Outcomes. Tony’s latest book is titled Ten Things Law School Doesn’t Teach About Crisis Management.  Read below to […]


A Swift Reputation

Time Magazine chose Taylor Swift as Person of the Year, offering a jump-off to examine the challenges faced by CEO’s and nonprofit executives in today’s climate of intense consumer activism and digital scrutiny, highlighting how modern boycotts and activism can cause lasting reputational damage to brands, unlike in the past. The article emphasizes the need for […]


When ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ are Not Enough: Why it’s Time to Humanize Crisis Statements

In the wake of the Uvalde school tragedy, the frequent call that “thoughts and prayers are not enough” resonated deeply. This sentiment underscores a growing numbness towards standardized expressions of empathy and compassion, which, while well-intentioned, often fall short in the face of real crisis. As these phrases become routine, their ability to truly address […]


Speak Up or Shut Up? The Great Communication Conundrum

Tony Jaques, Director of Issue Outcomes Pty Ltd, is both colleague and friend.  Writing from Australia, he offers solid advice about when to speak – and when not to speak.  Let’s see what he has to say… When you’re in the public spotlight over a high-profile issue, the first question is often: “What shall we […]


How Utility Firms Can Power Up With Effective Crisis Communications – Part Two

From wildfires in Hawaii to hurricanes in Florida, and sweltering heat, ice storms, boil-water notices, tornadoes, and extended service outages everywhere in between, 2023 has provided many crises (or near crises) on which utility communicators must communicate. That’s why we sat down with Thomas Fladung (left), managing partner at Hennes Communications, a crisis communications firm, to assess the current state of […]


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