This article ran first in Crain’s Cleveland Business on December 19, 2024. By Bruce Hennes, CEO, Hennes Communications This article examines the crisis communications lessons from the tragic assassination of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Brian Thompson. It critiques the company’s public statements and explores the broader ethical and reputational challenges facing UnitedHealthcare in light of this tragedy […]
By Carol Kinsey Goman A recent graduate had just been hired by one of the world’s most prestigious high-tech companies. When I asked her why she was chosen out of the hundreds of candidates vying for that position, she said that it was due to the “sit next to on a bus” test. She went […]
By Lucy Meneghello for Communiqué PR In PR, reactive messaging is no longer an option—it’s a necessity. This strategy encompasses the development of a response to inbound media inquiries or other requests for comments following a major event. As the name suggests, most organizations develop this response reactively. But the best reactive messaging isn’t created […]
In this post-election climate, the expectations placed upon corporations, as well as healthcare, education and social service organizations, are more complex than ever. Navigating societal issues, especially hot-button topics like gender, climate and racial discrimination, is no longer optional—it’s an expectation. This responsibility grows exponentially with the reelection of Donald Trump, as organizations may face […]
By Dawn Dankner-Rosen, Mackenzie Maher for O’Dwyer’s In today’s hyper-connected world, where news and information spread instantaneously, every business or organization will inevitably face some type of crisis that can threaten its hard-earned reputation. The stakes are even higher in healthcare, where effectively managing a crisis could be a matter of life or death. Medical […]
We are pleased to announce that Hennes Communications has been named Preferred Provider of Crisis Communications Services for the Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA). COSSBA represents 25 state school boards associations across the United States, serving more than 7,700 local public school districts. About Hennes Communications Founded in 1989, Hennes Communications is one […]
By Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications UPDATE: The piece below was written a few days before Election Day. We hope you agree it’s still worth a read. However, the polls are now closed, Election Day is behind us, most of the results appear to be uncontested, the U.S. Senate will soon be in the hands of […]
By Anthony S. Mangeri for Domestic Preparedness The role of the emergency management systems is to bring calm to chaos. The role of the public information officer (PIO) is to disseminate information that is credible, accurate, and reliable. It is a critical component of the initial response to meet the informational needs of residents – […]
By Dan Stoneking and Ed Conley for Homeland Security In today’s tumultuous landscape, the rise of misinformation and disinformation during disasters poses a significant challenge to effective crisis communication. The recent response to Hurricane Helene has starkly illustrated how false narratives can exploit the chaos, undermining trust in relief agencies and governmental institutions. As crisis communicators, our role […]
By Mandy Bray for Hubspot Every public relations pro has a few war stories. They come out in hushed tones from time to time, the story about that crisis, how it unfolded, and what it was like to be in the room where decisions were made. When this happens, lean in closer: that’s when you’ll hear the […]