Why ‘meaning-making’ matters In every crisis, it is essential that government and public sector leaders provide a compelling story. A good crisis narrative teaches the public about the realities of the predicament. It conveys what leaders know, do not know and cannot know, and what they are doing to figure out as much as possible. […]
From our colleague, Annie Searle… Like practitioners in other disciplines that continue to evolve in a complex technological world, the maturity of risk managers varies widely. In recovering from the 2008 financial crisis, we’ve seen corporate managers rebrand themselves into this field or get promoted into it without necessarily understanding risk frameworks or methodologies. There […]
Introduction by Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications Founded in 1989, Hennes Communications initially served as a full-service public relations firm. The landscape shifted dramatically following the 9/11 attacks when we pivoted to crisis communications and crisis management, becoming […]
Mike Janko is a good friend and colleague for those of us at Hennes Communications. Mike is one of the toughest guys we know. He even smiles – sometimes. What we can’t understand is why he isn’t stoop-shouldered, given the responsibilities he carries, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mike works for The […]
From Josh Dzieza, writing for The Verge… The internet is carried around the world by hundreds of thousands of miles of slender cables that sit at the bottom of the ocean. These fragile wires are constantly breaking — a precarious system on which everything from banks to governments to TikTok depends. This article highlights the […]
From our very good friend, Tony Jaques, Director of Issue Outcomes Pty Ltd, in North Melbourne, Australia… We all know and recognise them. Dial-a-quote CEOs and business leaders who love to be on TV and offer an opinion on every issue-of-the-day. Problem is they often mistake being provocative and controversial for making a thoughtful contribution to advancing […]
By Thom Fladung, Hennes Communications Today’s assignment: Search “crises and schools” in a Google news search. You’ll find 382,000 results. Here’s a quick headline sample: A Crisis of School Absences Mental health crisis in schools: 4 ways educators can take action Report: Schools Won’t Recover from COVID Absenteeism Crisis Until at Least 2030 Crisis In […]
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” […]
Is COVID-19 still a pandemic? Is it over? Should we call it something else? In his latest article, Dr. Peter Sandman delves into the ongoing narrative of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing a critical lens through which communicators can navigate the complex landscape of public perception and complacency. As we stand at the crossroads of public […]
Our good friend and colleague, Dr. Tony Jaques, is a prolific writer and commentator on risk, issues and crisis management. Based in Melbourne, Australia, he consults and has written three books in the field, also producing his must-read newsletter, Managing Outcomes. Tony’s latest book is titled Ten Things Law School Doesn’t Teach About Crisis Management. Read below to […]