Adding Self-Awareness, Compassion to the Crisis Toolkit
By Anne Green for O’Dwyers In May of 2010, BP’s then-CEO uttered what must’ve become one of the most infamous phrases in the annals of crisis communications: “There is no one who wants this over more than I do. I would like my life back.” The leader in question, Tony Hayward, already had a reputation […]
In a PR Crisis, Admit the Truth Now or Pay The Price Later
By Arthur Solomon for PRNEWS There’s a maxim that says the cover-up is worse than the crime. Another variation is the cover-up makes the crime worse. A prime example is the cover-up of the break-in at Democratic National Committee HQ at the Watergate Hotel, in 1972. In our business, unsuccessful cover-ups have brought many entities massive negative media coverage. Years […]
Why Did the Biden Team Fail to Use the Tenets of Basic Crisis Communications?
By Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications Why Did the Biden Team Fail to Use the Tenets of Basic Crisis Communications? When the news broke that classified documents were found in President Joe Biden’s Delaware home, the PR pundits immediately criticized his handling of the situation. They pointed out that Biden and his staff waited too long […]
Remarks Made by Memphis Police Chief in Aftermath of Tyre Nichols’ Death – A Master Class for Crisis Communications
By Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications In the aftermath of the death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of five police officers, the Memphis Police Chief chose not to stand behind the usual “This is a matter under investigation.” Instead, she made remarks that were honest and, in my opinion, stunningly blunt. Her outrage was evident […]
When Legal and Communications Collide: Making the Right Choice
By Richard Levick Speaking with journalists, shareholders, customers and stakeholders is easy when the going is good. As the old saying goes, “We are all capitalists on the way up but socialists on the way down.” But when things turn bad? Communication suddenly becomes much more challenging. As another old saying goes, “The gods of […]
Collapse Of Buffalo Bills Player Provides Crisis Lessons In Real Time For Business Leaders
By Edward Segal for Forbes It’s not often that business leaders have an opportunity to learn from a crisis that plays out in front of their eyes. Company executives had that chance Sunday night if they were watching the NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. Buffalo Bills’s Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest […]
Layoffs and Communication: What NOT to Do
By Nicole Schuman for PRNEWS With talk everywhere of a possible recession and economic instability around the globe, corporate layoff announcements seem more prevalent. Several days ago, Ford confirmed cutting 3,000 jobs. Apple laid off around 100 recruiters as it prepared for a hiring slowdown. Wayfair reported a loss of 870 jobs as it reacts […]
The Age of Outrage: Crisis Management in Social Media Pile-Ons
By Howard Fencl, Hennes Communications There’s nothing the self-righteous embrace more than joining with their fellow self-righteous to gang up on some unfortunate target. The angrier the echo chamber, the better. Social media is their perfect rage machine. It’s where anonymous trolls can obsess and pile on. And they do it relentlessly and instantly over […]
How to Create a Crisis
GoLocal, an online publication in Providence, Rhode Island, recently wrote an editorial critical of recent decisions by Rhode Island education officials. The editorial creatively lists everything those officials have been doing to create a crisis juxtaposed with tips for managing a crisis the right way, written by Northeastern University’s Graduate School. We urge you to […]
Media Training for Attorneys and Their Clients – Done on Your Schedule and at Your Convenience – In-Person or Remote
Whether it’s a staff meeting on Teams, a webinar on Zoom, a private conversation on FaceTime or a short training video you record on WebEx, it’s not just what you say, but how you say it. And if it’s an interview with a seasoned reporter, the stakes are even higher. You must be prepared to […]