By Amaris Castillo for Poynter.org It’s nearly impossible to describe the “Queen of all Media” in one sentence. Oprah Winfrey is a multihyphenate: A daytime talk show host who changed the business. A producer. An author. A philanthropist. An actress with accolades. A billionaire. An avid gardener. A champion of books and education. A media […]
By: Silvia Quevedo for American Society of Association Executives One simple shift in language can help boards and leaders break out of old patterns and drive strategic, future-focused thinking—even amid current challenges in the U.S. Learn how (and why) to make this change with real-world examples that demonstrate how small wording adjustments inspire bigger impact. […]
CEO transitions are never just internal events — they are moments of truth that can redefine an organization’s reputation in the eyes of every stakeholder. The stakes are immense: investors demand clarity, employees look for reassurance, regulators expect transparency and customers want continuity. When communication is mishandled, uncertainty fills the void, and confidence in leadership […]
In an era of disruption—where geopolitics, generative AI, workplace shifts, and rising stakeholder scrutiny collide, the CEO’s voice has never mattered more. This article argues that leaders can no longer delegate communications to corporate affairs teams alone; instead, they must personally set the tone for the organization, embody its culture and values, and step forward […]
By Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications When it comes to crisis communications, no amount of spin can repair the damage caused by poor judgment at the top. By now, you’ve probably seen the viral clip. At a Coldplay concert, in front of tens of thousands of fans, the stadium’s KissCam landed on Andy Byron, CEO of […]
For the third consecutive year, Hennes Communications has been named one of the top U.S. crisis communications firms by Chambers and Partners, the world’s leading independent legal research and rankings organization. Hennes Communications is one of only 20 communications consultancies in the United States included in the prestigious 2025 Chambers Crisis & Risk Management guide. […]
In a crisis, leaders are often judged by their words. Robert D. McFadden of The New York Times built a legendary career writing with clarity, speed, and impact — exactly what crisis moments demand. The best way to strengthen your own writing under pressure? Read great writing. McFadden’s work is a master class. The byline […]
Introduction by Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications I was a proud Boy Scout in the 1960s. Growing up in Ohio near Camp Manatoc—once considered by many to be the second-best Boy Scout camp in the country, after Philmont—we learned how to hike, haul water, pitch tents in the dead of winter, practice gun safety, work as […]
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. – Wikipedia Over the last […]
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 […]