It’s Time to Curtail “Horse Race” Coverage of Elections: What You Can Do Introduction by Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications Dear Valued Readers, In our continuous effort to enrich your understanding of the ever-evolving landscape of crisis communications, we bring to your attention a significant piece published by the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School and the Shorenstein […]
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Are Social Media Apps ‘Dangerous Products’ ?
From Joan Donovan and Sarah Parker, writing for The Conversation… “You have blood on your hands.” “I’m sorry for everything you have all been through.” These quotes, the first from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaking to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and the second from Zuckerberg to families of victims of online child abuse in the […]
Is the CEO Really Your Best Crisis Spokesperson?
From our friend and colleague in Australia, Tony Jaques… Who should speak in a crisis? That deceptively simple question can help determine whether an organisation’s reputation is enhanced or irreparably damaged when things go wrong. And behind that question are two common errors in crisis management. The first error is the idea that “speaking with one voice” […]
Does the Boss Need to Weigh In on the War in the Middle East?
From Emma Goldberg, writing for The New York Times… After reading the details of Hamas’s attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, Brad Karp, who runs the law firm Paul, Weiss, sat at his computer and wrote a memo to his roughly 2,000 employees. He didn’t ask the firm’s spokesman to draft it; he channeled his […]
10 Tips to Craft Compelling Pitches in a Skeptical Media World
By Michelle Ubben for PRNews In this fast-changing world with nearly limitless ways to get your message out, independent coverage from credible media outlets remains the Holy Grail. But there’s a reason it’s called earned media—PR professionals have to work hard and employ smart strategies to attract reporter attention and win hard-earned coverage. Given the evolving media […]
Why ‘Off the Record’ is a High-Wire Act Best Avoided
By Hennes Communications Q: A reporter wants to interview me, and I don’t want to be identified as the source of the information. What do I do? A: The reporter’s goal is to interview you with no strings attached – everything you say and do can be reported. This is called “on the record” and […]
What Succession Gets Right (and Wrong) about Communications
By Allison Braley, writing for PR News… The role of a communications professional in pop culture is often reduced to a “fixer” who goes as far as hiding bodies (see: “Scandal“), a glorified party planner (see: “Sex and the City” or “The Hills”), or most commonly, a nameless, harried, go-between shouting “no comment” into an open mic. […]
Is This the Best TV Ad of the Year?
Longtime readers of this newsletter know of our ongoing admiration of TV advertisements that tell stories. Recently, we stumbled upon a gem that stands out for its narrative brilliance, telling a compelling story within the brief span of 60 seconds, proving that often it’s not just the facts but the story that resonates. The ad […]
A Look Back: 2023 Biggest Fraud Trends
By Laura Burrows for Experian Information Solutions Fraud is a serious concern for everyone, including businesses and individuals. In fact, according to our 2023 U.S. Identity and Fraud Report, nearly two-thirds (64%) of consumers are very or somewhat concerned with online security, and over 50% of businesses have a high level of concern about fraud […]
The Top Songs, Artists, Podcasts, and Listening Trends of 2023 Revealed
From Spotify Musically, 2023 was defined by the return of major female pop stars, sonic diversity that topped the charts, and a global music atmosphere that gave rise to powerful genres. On the podcast front, creators are responding to trends in real time, and audiences are turning to podcasts to join larger cultural conversations. As […]