Editor’s Note: Ever since we began training clients in media relations, we’ve strongly cautioned them about the risks of going off the record, speaking on background or using any other variations of sharing sensitive information. It’s nothing like what you see in the movies, where someone says, “This is off the record,” and the reporter […]
By Dan Stoneking, writing for Homeland Security Today The classic 2003 children’s movie, Finding Nemo, shares several important lessons. Among them are working through anxiety, overcoming fear, gaining confidence, and learning to trust. These same themes envelop emergency managers and crisis communicators when we seek to find truth. Unfortunately, finding truth is a real-world adult challenge. […]
The online anger over the logo change and calls to oust the CEO were actually turbocharged by bots. Even the green beans are making people mad. Introduction by Allison Girvin, Hennes Communications In today’s digital landscape, a brand crisis can erupt in hours. As Cracker Barrel’s recent logo controversy shows, it can be fueled not […]
By Eric Rose for PRCG | Haggerty LLC There are PR blunders and there are catastrophes so tone-deaf they become case studies for years to come. The Polish millionaire CEO accused of snatching a tennis cap meant for a child at the U.S. Open has secured his place in the latter category. And his scrambling […]
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. […]
From Managing Outcomes Below, another excellent essay from our good friend in Australia, Tony Jacques… In a world disoriented by misinformation and disinformation, old fashioned spin still lurks to contaminate public relations and communication. Unlike misinformation – unknowingly sharing statements that are false – and disinformation – deliberately creating statements intended to mislead – spin […]
By Rick Edmonds for Poynter The No Kings protests on June 14 crystallized that something has gone missing in a great many Sunday print editions lately — breaking news. Of course, you could read all about it in a timely fashion on the digital site of your local newspaper outlet later that Saturday. But many of those […]
In recent years, it seems nearly every PR firm now claims to offer crisis communications. If an agency already sells marketing plans, product launches, social media, branding, employee engagement, investor relations, and digital marketing — it’s all too easy to simply add “crisis communications” to the list, often without experienced professionals to back it up. […]
By Ioana Good, Natalie Magierski for Strategies & Voices According to a recent study shared by Cision, “45% of communications leaders identified content creation as a top priority; however, only 33% rate themselves as ‘excellent’ at articulating a compelling brand story.” As communicators and strategists, we understand the importance of telling a story authentically and meeting […]