The Evolutionary Nature of Crisis Communications
From Anthony Spota, writing for Fair Observer: In an era when 280 characters can spur the demise or salvation of entire companies, so-called crisis communications has become an increasingly important and technically complex profession. Today’s successful specialists in this craft must be knowledgeable about a variety of topics including public relations, psychology, data science and […]
Humans are Hardwired to Dismiss Facts That Don’t Fit Their Worldview
From Adrian Bardon, Professor of Philosophy, Wake Forest University, writing for The Conversation. Something is rotten in the state of American political life. The U.S. (among other nations) is increasingly characterized by highly polarized, informationally insulated ideological communities occupying their own factual universes. Within the conservative political blogosphere, global warming is either a hoax or so uncertain as […]
FEMA & Emergency Management Partner Organizations Release “PrepTalk” on Lessons for Emergency Managers
PrepTalks are given by subject-matter experts and thought leaders to spread new ideas, spark conversation, and promote innovative leadership for the issues confronting emergency managers over the next 20 years. Each PrepTalk includes a video, discussion slides and resources. Today’s PrepTalk is Left in the Dark: Power Outages in an Interconnected World featuring Kate Konschnik, […]
Businesses & Nonprofits Must Plan Now for Coronavirus Outbreak
By Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications In the face of a coronavirus pandemic, prudent business and nonprofit leaders should be using “peace time” to prepare for the worst. Animal viruses that jump species can and often do change or mutate, presenting challenges to doctors and researchers. In rapidly developing situations, reporters demand simple and definitive […]
Coronavirus & Risk Communications
February 3, 2020 Beyond the headlines and soundbites, the main effect from coronavirus seen thus far in the United States may be confusion. Who to believe. What to believe. And how best to prepare and think about this latest global threat right now. Today, we offer analysis and advice from perhaps the United States’ preeminent […]
9 Corporate Communications Changes to Anticipate for 2020
When it comes to corporate risk and resilience, one of the gurus in the industry is our friend and colleague, Richard Levick, who recently gazed into his risk-ridden crystal ball. Richard believes that 2020 will bring precedent-shattering cyber breaches, radical revisions to enterprise risk management, a public relations backlash to the #MeToo movement, litigation funding […]
Crisis and Reputation Management Increasingly are About Managing Social Media
By Thom Fladung/ Hennes Communications How fast is social media at reporting on events – including events that your organization might consider a crisis? Faster than you. Consider a situation involving a school in Westfield, N.Y., that we stumbled upon. Here’s the first paragraph of a story from the Westfield Republican: “Parents need to realize […]
Lots of PR Firms Sell Their Crisis Work – Let The Buyer Beware
By Bruce Hennes/Hennes Communications With no barriers to entry, every public relations firm in the U.S. now appears 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. It’s also an art […]
RE:RE:RE:RE:RE: Getting Your Email Read
By Howard Fencl/Hennes Communications In a crisis, wading through my Outlook inbox looking for important new information a client must communicate is a monumental challenge when that new nugget is buried in an impossibly long email chain, and the subject line is something like: “RE:RE:RE:RE:RE: Your email.” We evangelize the use of messages in media […]
Practicing Law In The Public Spotlight
Attorney Jack Bacevice joined the Cleveland firm Mansour Gavin after years as an Assistant Director of Law for the city of Cleveland. He’s handled numerous high-profile cases and is very familiar with practicing in the court of law while the court of public opinion intently watches. We’ll periodically feature a Q&A with Jack and Hennes […]