The Six Essential Rules for Lawyers Dealing with Reporters
Thanks to Mary Flood for this article… Whether reporters are calling about a crisis or just to tap your expertise, here are the six things all lawyers should know before talking to the press. An unanswered or botched media call can be a nightmare, or at the very least a lost opportunity for advocacy for […]
To Rebuild Trust, CDC Should Consider Going Back to What Used to Work Well: Subject Matter Experts Explaining Complexities Candidly for As Long As It Takes
Do you remember the 2009 swine flu pandemic, also referred to by the media as the H1N1 flu? I remember two things quite distinctly: As this flu crossed borders, infecting 700 million to 1.4 billion people — or 11 to 21 percent of the global population of 6.8 billion at the time — thankfully, 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 […]
Psaki Statement Offers a COVID Disclosure Guide for PR Pros
From Sophie Maerowitz, writing for PR News… Yesterday (Oct. 31), White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki disclosed that she contracted COVID-19. In a statement posted to Twitter and published by the Associated Press, Psaki shared the circumstances of her positive COVID test result, as well as the actions she has taken since. The timing and content of Psaki’s […]
Just Because You Don’t Believe in Conspiracy Theories Doesn’t Mean You’re Always Right
From Adrian J. Rivera, writing for The New York Times… Every so often, something so awful and senseless happens that it’s hard to fully absorb it. An apartment building collapses as residents sleep within. A movie star’s prop gun fires a real bullet on a film set, killing a young mother. A concert crowd morphs […]
How to Combat the Legal Response Syndrome
From our colleague in Australia, Tony Jaques, director of Issue Outcomes Pty Ltd… There’s a good reason why legal advice is important in crisis management. Because just about every crisis or potential crisis has a legal component. But at the same time just about no crisis or potential crisis is ever solely about legal matters. Failure to recognise that leads to […]
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 & […]
Inside Critical Race Theory: Shedding Light on a Hot Topic
The “debate” over critical race theory – really, more often a shouting match – shows no sign of ending soon. As the New York Times noted in this thorough primer, the decades-old theory based on extensive scholarship continues making “national and international headlines and is a target for talking heads. Culture wars over critical race theory have turned school […]
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, […]