By Jennifer Hahn, writing for PR News… Public health wise, 2025 is off to a rough start. Current data shows that H5N1 Bird flu has spread from millions of birds to nearly 1,000 cows and 69 humans. Newly-minted United States Health and Human Services Director and outspoken vaccine skeptic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., used his first week in office […]
By Lindsey Bradshaw writing for PR News… Did you know social media actually dates back to the 1970s? Long before the web, the PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations) computer system pioneered online communities with message boards, email, chat rooms and games, laying the foundation for today’s social platforms. It was followed by Bulletin Board Systems, […]
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 It’s a simple fact: Controversies today are tried in the Court of Public Opinion more often than the Court of Law. News now breaks first on social media, with traditional media sweeping Twitter/X, Facebook and YouTube for leads. Whether your organization is immersed in crisis or dealing with a hot-button […]
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 […]
By Thom Fladung, Hennes Communications In 2024, Hennes Communications worked with more than 50 schools, school districts and other education organizations. Our work involved serious issues and potential controversies including: Sexual misconduct allegations involving teachers Sexual misconduct allegations involving students Tense labor negotiations Superintendents facing no confidence votes from teachers Superintendents and school boards attacked […]
By Eleanor Hawkins for Axios The communication team at American Airlines had to activate a crisis plan it hoped it would never have to use after last week’s midair collision of a passenger jet and Army helicopter that claimed 67 lives. Why it matters: Responding to a tragedy of this magnitude requires clarity, discipline and speed. The American […]
By Natalie Severt for PRNews In a moment that underscores the challenges of navigating the political landscape, TikTok has found itself in a high-stakes battle. The app, which remains operational for existing users despite its removal from app stores, nonetheless faces an uncertain future as courts and government officials debate its fate. However, this evolving situation […]
Celebrities who are worried that they might be “cancelled” will be able to take out insurance to deal with the consequences of a social media fallout. Social media storms, which begin when a celebrity or public figure is perceived to have crossed a moral line, can be hugely damaging to lucrative careers. The policy, which […]
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 […]