Learn how your organization can pass legislation through the General Assembly in 2025.

With the recent election of President Trump, institutions of higher education need to prepare for possible shifts in federal policy. Schools should expect reduced student aid, the end of student debt forgiveness, and major structural changes at the U.S. Department of Education. Leaders need a clear view of their exposure. Fitler Square Strategies helps institutions assess these risks through political vulnerability audits. Vulnerability audits help institutions understand how

This week, a minor controversy erupted here in Philadelphia when comments made by Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia disparaging...

I wrote this op-ed back in June, but Gov. Shapiro rebuilt I-95 too quickly and kept making the piece less relevant. There's been an...

Do you know you need a crisis communications plan, but the blank page keeps winning? A public relations firm with crisis experience helps break that block and gets your team ready for hard moments. Without preparation, a crisis will hurt your reputation fast. Negative stories pile up, press coverage turns rough, and social media problems spread. A crisis communications plan gives your team structure and helps you respond to issues that threaten your reputation. Why you need

In my experience running communications audits, one finding shows up again and again. Communications teams often struggle with internal communication. It feels ironic, but it matters. When internal systems break down, external work suffers. Teams focus so much on external strategy that they overlook their own internal needs. Some teams lack clear approval steps. Others use the wrong workflow tools or get low adoption on the tools they picked. No matter the issue, weak interna

When planning advocacy communications, the messenger matters as much as the message. As Pennsylvania debated its state budget, we got a...

Law firms face tough challenges when they manage litigation. The public response around a case shapes outcomes and reputations. You need a crisis communications partner who understands how fast situations escalate and how high the stakes are. Legal challenges bring reputational risk to your clients. While your firm manages the legal strategy, you need a partner to manage the public response. A legal dispute can turn into a crisis fast if you lack support from a team with cris

Your organization and your stakeholders worked hard for a major policy win. Now what? Many groups jump to the next project and forget to show people what they accomplished. If you want your win to matter, you need a plan to thank lawmakers and explain the results to supporters and the public. Look at the Inflation Reduction Act. When President Biden signed the law, it brought new jobs, lower costs, and cleaner air and water.   It covered many issues, which gave advocates pl

When do you need a crisis communications PR firm? If you've been thinking about hiring a public relations firm, here are some considerations

In Philadelphia earlier this month, a chemical spill threatened the city's water supply. The experience offered important lessons in...

What are some good rules for crisis communications? As an organization, mitigating risks to your reputation and operation is important.

Most colleges and universities spread decision making across many offices. Leaders do not run things with a strict chain of command. This helps people feel free to speak up and work on their own, but it also creates communication problems. Your team needs a plan that respects this culture and still pushes a clear message across the whole institution. Here is a simple way to create a Communications Plan for Colleges and Universities Bring people into the room early. Invite voi

Following the 2022 elections, Pennsylvania's government will have new leaders in the House and the Governor's office. Democrats won the...

Last week, John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz debated for the first and only time in the Pennsylvania Senate race. The Senate debate is...

Goals in a crisis communications plan need to be specific, measurable, actionable and time-limited.