small-logo
Need help now? Call 216.321.7774

Chris Rock’s Joke About Actress Jada Pinkett Smith Creates Crisis For Academy Awards and Will Smith

It was indeed the slap heard ’round the world.  But if you’re looking for Hollywood gossip, look elsewhere.  Instead, let’s look at the situation from the crisis management point of view. Here’s how I saw it: If you’re a high-power celeb and you sit in the front row of the Academy Award ceremonies, you are […]


Who Should Take the Lead in a Crisis?

With no barriers to entry, every public relations firm in the U.S. – and many around the world – now appear to offer “crisis communications.” They don’t. At least, all of those who claim to don’t. Crisis work requires a different – and often counterintuitive – skill set from the traditional practice of public relations.  […]


Fighting Putin’s Propaganda: Narrative Response Toolkit

From our colleagues at Lynn PR in the United Kingdom, written by Stefan Rollnik… President Putin is waging two wars which are mutually reinforcing.  One with bombs and one with information. In seeking to pollute the information space with bad information, contradictory information and downright lies, Putin is blurring the lines of reality and making […]


Crisis Communications 101: Should You Apologize for Mistakes?

By Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications If you’ve ever attended one of our seminars on crisis communications, we often talk about the power of apology.  Real apologies; apologies that are authentic and true; apologies without qualification or the use of “weasel words” (e.g. “mistakes were made”). Perhaps no industry does apology better AND worse than the […]


Why Should a Government Agency Reach Out To a Crisis Communications Firm?

By Stephanie York, JD, Hennes Communications Any government agency should prioritize communicating truthfully, transparently, quickly and effectively, using traditional media, social media, the agency’s website and any other methods available. A serious issue or crisis ups the ante on communications. That’s when stakeholders most need correct and timely information.  That’s also when damaging misinformation and […]


Why Should a Local School District or Independent/Parochial School Reach Out To a Crisis Communications Firm?

By Stephanie York, JD, Hennes Communications Q: Why should a local school district, an independent or parochial school reach out to a crisis communications firm? A:  Quick – What’s the single highest priority for a superintendent, head or board president?  It’s not education.  It’s safety.  And just one part of that safety net is making […]


Crisis Communication: 5 Steps for Damage Control

By Thom Fladung, Hennes Communications Attorney Andy Phillips, like many folks, looks back a bit wistfully at the “good old days.” “I wish it was back in the day where I could go home at 6 o’clock and sit down with the paper for a half hour,” says Phillips, whose practice at von Briesen & […]


Tough Calls: Is Your Loyalty to the Person, Office or Organization?

Editor’s Note:  This piece originally ran in the February 2018 of our Crisis Management Today newsletter.  We thought it worthwhile to run again. A frequent concern at Hennes Communications before and during the work we do for clients is to make certain we understand who our client actually is.  In most situations, it’s an institution, […]


The Not-So-Jolly Aaron Rodgers Controversy’s PR Lessons

Art Solomon writes… Aaron Rodgers arguably is the best quarterback in the National Football League, but also he is one of many athletes who should attend a PR 101 class. A basic PR rule that Rodgers broke is never to lie or mislead the media. The Green Bay Packers’ star denies he did. Yet, his […]


Threats Rarely Work: A PR Lesson from HBO’s ‘Succession’

David Ball, writing for PR News, hits it on the head… With the return of HBO’s “Succession” next month, I remember at least one teachable communication moment from the second season.  In episode six, a magazine writer approaches the leaders of fictitious Waystar Royco with a story of sexual harassment and abuse within the company. The story […]


Contact Us

Your name Organization name Describe your situation Your phone number Your email address
Leave this as it is