For decades, PR pros have planned communications campaigns around weather “seasons”—hurricane season and tornado season in particular. Each spring, messages are issued with reminders to prepare for possible weather events. In November, we are reminded to prepare for winter weather.

Climate change has upended what we think of as weather “seasons.” Typically, April through July are considered “tornado season” and June through November are “hurricane season.” In the past few years, though, we...

The year 2021 was supposed to be one of positive change. Or so we thought. The year delivered large doses of frustrating virus protocols and political turmoil along with hefty doses of mistrust, disinformation and reputational gaffes. Classic PR blunders continued to generate headlines where leaders failed to learn from history. Here are a few cautionary tales for business leaders as we look to the new year.

A textbook response is not always enough. At least 88 people were killed and many...