From FTI Consulting… They say “failing to prepare is preparing to fail”, but in today’s world of growing and varied crises, what does real preparation look like? We’re told to “expect the unexpected,” but how does that translate into tangible actions to protect businesses and organizations when the stakes are so high? In Turbulent Waters, Trusted […]
Editor’s Note: This must-read article reveals how real disasters test — and prove — he power of crisis communications training. From the Key Bridge collapse to the Nashville shooting, Tropical Storm Helene, and California wildfires, it shows how classroom lessons become life-saving action and how every response reshapes future teaching. Blending insight, authenticity, and […]
Are you ready to elevate your career and become an indispensable asset to your organization? Ohio University’s prestigious Scripps College of Communication offers an exceptional opportunity that could transform your professional trajectory. Through an innovative partnership with Hennes Communications, if you recently attended a seminar with Bruce Hennes, you can receive one free credit hour […]
From our good friend and colleague, Tony Jaques, Director of Issue Outcomes Pty Ltd, in Australia… Does a CEO op-ed serve any good purpose in a crisis? Writing an op-ed to help frame an important issue is a well-established tool in the communications armoury. But when a CEO uses it to “explain” a corporate crisis, it […]
By Nick Hansen, writing for The American Bar Association “If you can see it coming, it’s not a crisis,” said Bruce Hennes, CEO of Hennes Communications, to audience members at his 2024 Bar Leadership Institute workshop “Speaking Out or Strategic Silence? Organizational Approaches to Issuing Public Statements.”Hennes, along with (now former) Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association […]
By Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications In today’s high-stakes environment, rising to the C-suite is one challenge. Navigating a full-blown crisis is another entirely. Leading an organization into financial success, operational growth or market dominance does not automatically prepare you for the turbulence of public scrutiny, viral misinformation or emotional social media backlash. While your boardroom […]
By Seth Chalmers, writing for The Stanford Social Innovation Review… “Should we put out a statement?” If you’re a nonprofit communications professional, you’ve heard that question many times, often the day after some major news event. Since the October 7 massacres in Israel and subsequent war in Gaza, many nonprofits have struggled to decide whether […]
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declined to respond to criticism on Wednesday of the city’s handling of a series of wildfires that have left at least five people dead and thousands of structures burned. Bass was on a diplomatic trip to Ghana as flames tore through the Pacific Palisades and left on Saturday. Here, in […]
This article ran first in Crain’s Cleveland Business on December 19, 2024. By Bruce Hennes, CEO, Hennes Communications This article examines the crisis communications lessons from the tragic assassination of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Brian Thompson. It critiques the company’s public statements and explores the broader ethical and reputational challenges facing UnitedHealthcare in light of this tragedy […]
In this post-election climate, the expectations placed upon corporations, as well as healthcare, education and social service organizations, are more complex than ever. Navigating societal issues, especially hot-button topics like gender, climate and racial discrimination, is no longer optional—it’s an expectation. This responsibility grows exponentially with the reelection of Donald Trump, as organizations may face […]