Breaking Bad News

Jeff Hahn

Buy on Amazon

With the first edition of Breaking Bad News, Jeff Hahn created an essential guide for surviving the first crucial hours of a reputation crisis. He synthesized thirty years of crisis communication experience into one model, helping brands navigate uncharted territory with tools proven to work whenever unexpected situations, malicious events, or head-scratching screw-ups threaten a reputation.

Now, in this second edition of Breaking Bad News, Jeff has added a dozen new case studies from a variety of industries that include the energy and electric sector, food and beverage space, and the airlines. The models Jeff presents are adaptable. His examples, immediately applicable.

When the spaghetti hits the fan, Breaking Bad News is the ultimate rapid response resource for crisis communication leaders.

Press & Praise

Daniel H. Pink, author of When and Drive.

"Jeff Hahn reminds us that it's not a matter of if you will have a crisis, but when. Breaking Bad News presents useful models for crisis management and tools you can use to respond to any crisis--within two hours! This book is helpful reading for anyone who is in any way responsible for responding to brand emergencies."

Jill Saletta, Vice President of Corporate Communications, Tesoro.

"I've been on point responding to many kinds of crises--from silicone breast implants to the largest land oil spill in US history--and I've seen a lot of cumbersome, overly complicated crisis plans out of step with the fast-moving reality we live in. Jeff's approach eliminates needless complexity with straightforward instruction for navigating both the events and the people involved in good crisis response. Breaking Bad News is a practical, go-to crisis playbook for any organization in any industry."

Eric Dezenhall, author of Damage Control and Glass Jaw.

"A welcome addition to the crisis canon in an environment where the rules of engagement keep changing."

Jeff Hahn grew up on a farm in northeast Iowa in the middle of the 1970s farm crisis. A tornado destroyed his family’s farm, so he eventually left Iowa by joining the US Air Force. Jeff’s career in public relations and crisis communications includes time at Lockheed, Motorola, and Hahn, his integrated marketing and PR firm.The anthem of his farm years is John Mellencamp’s “Rain on the Scarecrow,” but his favorite song of all time is “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees. Perhaps unsurprising for a crisis guy, Jeff’s favorite movie is Apocalypse Now.

More Houndstooth Work

View All Books