January 21, 2026
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The AI Era Is Here – How Schools Can Communicate About It Intelligently
By Thom Fladung, Hennes Communications
Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that advocates for a safe and equitable digital world for children, partnered with market research company Ipsos Public Affairs to conduct a nationally representative survey in the spring of 2024 about AI use in schools.
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Saying “No” in a Storm: What Lawyers and Crisis Advisors Share
By Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications
James Comey argues that legal training builds the ability to analyze facts, write clearly, anticipate hindsight scrutiny, and say “no” under pressure. While agreeing, the author challenges Comey’s claim that imagining a future fact-finder is uniquely lawyerly, noting crisis managers and communicators must do the same amid uncertainty. In high-stakes crises, both lawyers and seasoned crisis counsel are essential—especially when moral courage is required to refuse a dangerous “yes.”
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To Market a Crisis Practice, Train the Attorneys in Crisis Communications
By Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications
Tilden Katz, writing for Strategies and Voices, law firms are increasingly marketing crisis management and communications to clients. Almost half of Am Law firms have a practice with “crisis” in the title. Clients and law firms benefit when their attorneys can skillfully navigate competing interests in a crisis. Unfortunately for many attorneys, crisis skills are rarely taught; they are picked up haphazardly — if at all — over the years. The better approach is a more formal training process that helps attorneys counsel clients through high-stakes situations.
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Campbell’s Leaked Audio Spells ‘Mmm! Mmm! Trouble!’
When a recording leaked of a Campbell’s Co. executive spewing racist comments and disparaging his company’s products, the soup maker sprang into action and responded with force. It took the matter very seriously. But the episode may also suggest a culture that doesn’t encourage employees to warn about potential crises.
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Oprah Changed What Media Could Be — and How Millions Live Their Lives
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 powerhouse.
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FBI Warns of Increase in AI-Generated Impersonations of Senior U.S. Officials
An FBI Alert (Dec. 19, 2025) warns actors have impersonated U.S. officials since 2023 using AI voice (vishing) and text (smishing), then moving victims to encrypted apps to solicit documents, authentication codes, introductions, or overseas wires. Verify identities independently, scrutinize contact details, watch for AI artifacts and contact the FBI.
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Why the CEO Must be Seen to Lead in a Crisis
Our colleague,Tony Jaques, argues that in major crises, the CEO must be visibly leading, not just the communications team. Using Kenvue’s response to a White House attack on Tylenol (and criticism that its interim CEO stayed largely silent), plus examples from Costa Concordia and Exxon Valdez, he shows how an absent, or poorly deployed, CEO can worsen reputational damage.
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Apple Puts Accessibility Center Stage in a Joyful Campus Musical
Regular readers of this newsletter know that we love commercials. The ability to tell a complete story in one minute, perhaps to spur action or tug a heartstring, is an art form unto itself. Please, watch this commercial. Then watch it a second time to see what you missed the first time. Then, in the spirit of the season, pass it along to your friends and colleagues.
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1/16/26 Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce
2/19/26 Ohio State Bar Association Leadership Academy
3/12/26 Consortium of State School Boards Association Annual Conference
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7/30/26 South Carolina Council of School Attorneys
5/18/26 Managing Partner Bootcamp
(Winding River Consulting)
9/29/26 Iowa Association of School Business Officers
12/8/26 Akron Bar Association
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