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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
We are pleased to announce that Hennes Communications has been named Preferred Provider of Crisis Communications Services for the Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA). COSSBA represents 25 state school boards associations across the United States, serving more than 7,700 local public school districts. About Hennes Communications Founded in 1989, Hennes Communications is one […]
By Steve Smith for PRWeek Early in my career, one of my most dreaded assignments — aside from telephone call-downs — was requesting a correction from a journalist on a story that I secured for a client. For many PR pros, this is an intimidating ask of a journalist’s time. Many PR pros would probably […]
By Kelly Byrnes for Harvard Business Review Being a panelist offers advantages that extend beyond the appreciative applause of the audience. It’s a chance to showcase your expertise, network with your professional community, contribute to industry dialogue, and build your reputation as a thought leader. If you perform well, your colleagues may begin to see […]
By Denise-Marie Ordway for The Journalist’s Resource Journalists often make mistakes when reporting on data such as opinion poll results, federal jobs reports and census surveys because they don’t quite understand — or they ignore — the data’s margin of error. Data collected from a sample of the population will never perfectly represent the population […]
By Stefanie M. Marrone Public speaking can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it’s also a powerful tool for sharing ideas and inspiring others. Many people, even seasoned speakers, feel physiological reactions like a faster heartbeat and shaky hands before taking the stage, including me. The key is to not associate these feelings with impending failure. […]
By Stefanie M. Marrone for The Social Media Butterfly Public speaking is an important skill that everyone needs to master and it’s something you can learn – trust me, as I’ve been there too. I wasn’t always a confident public speaker—in fact, I used to be filled with anxiety every time I had to speak […]