Paddy Power, an Irish betting company, launched this hilarious commercial to target a behavior that has become too normalized — sports fans on Twitter confidently criticizing professional athletes from the comfort of their sofas. Shot in a mock-documentary style, the ad follows a “Social Squad” that tracks down outspoken Twitter users who posted bold takes […]
Here’s another thoughtful piece from our friend and colleague, Tony Jaques, Director of Issue Outcomes Pty Ltd, in Australia… In the sad pantheon of non-apologies, “I regret” or “it is regrettable” rank alongside the perennial “I’m sorry if you were offended”. When Sydney radio talk show heavyweight Kyle Sandilands launched a personal on-air attack against his co-host Jackie […]
The Mass Shooting Playbook Introduction by Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications… A mass shooting is not just a tactical emergency. It is a communications crucible. This article introduces the Mass Shooting Playbook, a research-driven, practical handbook for leaders and communicators responsible for communities under threat. Built on real-world cases, it offers checklists, clear roles, and guidance […]
By Tony Jaques, Director of Issue Outcomes Pty Ltd. Outrage moves faster than facts. And “just stay silent” is rarely neutral. This article offers a practical way to decide whether to speak on contentious issues and, more importantly, how to make that call without sounding performative or losing trust. It lays out a shared-values framework […]
By Julia Minson, writing for The New York Times A Harvard researcher describes a fraught conversation about immigration with her conservative, veteran father-in-law and shares the behavioral-science playbook that kept it constructive. The takeaway isn’t “win the argument,” but keep the relationship intact. She explains why curiosity beats persuasion, how to signal respect while disagreeing […]
From our friend and colleague, Tony Jaques, Director of Issue Outcomes Pty Ltd. When the Trump administration launched an unprecedented attack on the painkiller Tylenol – known in most of the world as paracetamol – it was a serious product crisis for drugmaker Kenvue, as well as its previous parent. Johnson and Johnson, which spun off its […]
By Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications Before James Comey headed up the F.B.I., he served as general counsel of Lockheed Martin Corporation. While at Lockheed, he spoke at the National Security Agency about how studying law is similar to the education intelligence analysts receive. “You read a case and decipher…relevant facts, the [outcome] of the case…you are drilled […]
By Adam Probolsky Most Americans are not trying to get to the “shining city on a hill.” They can’t see “a thousand points of light.” They do not believe it’s morning in America.” But it gets worse, recent national polling shows that just 54% of us have a positive view of capitalism – it’s down […]
Crisis communications is a sub-specialty of the public relations profession that is designed to protect and defend an individual, company, or organization facing a public challenge to its reputation. Crisis communications is aimed at raising awareness of a specific type of threat, the magnitude, outcomes, and specific behaviors to adopt to reduce the threat. […]
By Christine Haughney Dare-Bryan, writing for Provoke Media PR officials offer their greatest wisdom on how to lead through angry times. CHICAGO — There’s no debate that society is living through an “age of rage” — from the murder of health care executives to the polarizing political debates that dominate news headlines. But at Provoke […]