We’ve all seen the familiar press announcements… “We’re delighted to partner with an organisation that shares our values and like-minded mission, delivering increased impact and strategic alignment going forward…“ Beautiful. Meaningless. Everywhere. In communications, we are in the business of communicating, yet too often we see the same clichés tossed around ad nauseum. Below, we […]
When an employee is arrested or charged with a criminal offence – particularly one likely to attract public or media interest – the communications challenges can be significant. Navigating this situation requires care, confidentiality, and co-ordination between HR, legal and communications teams. How you manage internal and external messaging can have a lasting impact on […]
Public inquiries in the UK are designed to investigate matters of serious public concern – from major health or safety failures to decisions made by public bodies or private organisations. While inquiries are not about determining criminal or civil liability, they can place an organisation and its leadership under intense scrutiny. Many law firms offer […]
Inquests are a vital part of the judicial process, designed to establish how someone died – particularly in unexpected or unexplained circumstances. However, they can also be high-profile, emotionally charged events that attract significant media interest. For organisations involved, how they respond – and are seen to respond – can have a lasting impact on […]
Select Committee hearings are a key mechanism for Parliamentary scrutiny – and when your organisation or leaders are called to give evidence, the stakes are high. Hearings are public, often televised, and closely followed by the media, campaigners, and stakeholders. While legal teams may be involved in briefing and preparation, this is fundamentally a reputational […]
In the age of AI-everything, it’s tempting to hand over complex tasks to algorithms – including the drafting of crisis communication manuals. But while AI might help you create informative blog posts for your organisation’s website (though not in this case!), a crisis comms manual is something else entirely. These documents aren’t just about words. […]
Sentebale, the charity co-founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, has long been an internationally respected organisation doing vital work to support children affected by HIV/AIDS in southern Africa. However, in recent weeks, the charity’s future has seemed uncertain after it has found itself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, as […]
After a distinguished career that spanned Fleet Street and senior communications roles at British Airways, Cable and Wireless and the Football Association, the time has sadly come for one of Alder’s longest serving and most respected consultants, Steve Double, to retire. Everyone at Alder will miss his reassuring presence, unparalleled expertise and dedication to achieving […]
When you’re booking a long-haul flight, you expect a few inconveniences: turbulence, toddlers kicking your seat, maybe a fellow traveller practicing yoga in the aisle or, worst of all, the person next to you trying to start a conversation. What you don’t expect is having to share your row with a corpse. For Australian couple […]