Effective crisis communications requires more than legal expertise. During a corporate crisis, legal risk and reputational risk must be managed simultaneously. The strongest crisis management strategies pair experienced legal counsel with seasoned crisis communications professionals—working as co-pilots to manage litigation exposure, media scrutiny, stakeholder trust and reputation management through one coordinated strategy. By Bruce Hennes, […]
A public attack on negative media coverage can transform a minor story into a full-blown reputation management crisis. After robotics company 1X criticized a Wired article on social media, its complaint generated millions of views—vastly amplifying the original coverage. The lesson for crisis communications, media relations and PR professionals: don’t inadvertently make bad news go […]
We are pleased to announce that Hennes Communications is now a division of AKCG – Public Relations Counselors. A Strategic Partnership AKCG, a leading strategic communications firm headquartered in the Philadelphia area with offices in D.C. — and now Cleveland — brings additional depth to our work and the services we can now offer to […]
AKCG – Public Relations Counselors Acquires Cleveland-based Hennes Communications The acquisition, bringing together two long-established national crisis communications agencies, strengthens AKCG’s reputation management footprint AKCG – Public Relations Counselors, headquartered in the Greater Philadelphia Region, today announced that it has acquired Hennes Communications, a nationally recognized crisis communications agency founded by Bruce Hennes in 1989. […]
From our good friends at AKCG – Public Relations Counselors Preparing for Crisis: Developing a Crisis Communication Strategy for Independent Schools Independent schools face numerous challenges that can potentially disrupt their operations and reputation. From staff turnover, employee misconduct, cyber-attacks and more, schools need to be prepared to effectively manage and mitigate the impact of […]
Paddy Power, an Irish betting company, launched this hilarious commercial to target a behavior that has become too normalized — sports fans on Twitter confidently criticizing professional athletes from the comfort of their sofas. Shot in a mock-documentary style, the ad follows a “Social Squad” that tracks down outspoken Twitter users who posted bold takes […]
Here’s another thoughtful piece from our friend and colleague, Tony Jaques, Director of Issue Outcomes Pty Ltd, in Australia… In the sad pantheon of non-apologies, “I regret” or “it is regrettable” rank alongside the perennial “I’m sorry if you were offended”. When Sydney radio talk show heavyweight Kyle Sandilands launched a personal on-air attack against his co-host Jackie […]
The Mass Shooting Playbook Introduction by Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications… A mass shooting is not just a tactical emergency. It is a communications crucible. This article introduces the Mass Shooting Playbook, a research-driven, practical handbook for leaders and communicators responsible for communities under threat. Built on real-world cases, it offers checklists, clear roles, and guidance […]
By Tony Jaques, Director of Issue Outcomes Pty Ltd. Outrage moves faster than facts. And “just stay silent” is rarely neutral. This article offers a practical way to decide whether to speak on contentious issues and, more importantly, how to make that call without sounding performative or losing trust. It lays out a shared-values framework […]
By Julia Minson, writing for The New York Times A Harvard researcher describes a fraught conversation about immigration with her conservative, veteran father-in-law and shares the behavioral-science playbook that kept it constructive. The takeaway isn’t “win the argument,” but keep the relationship intact. She explains why curiosity beats persuasion, how to signal respect while disagreeing […]
