Insights

October 24, 2025

We won’t give you the tired line that the world is more unpredictable than ever (if only because it’s true), but volatility has undeniably become the norm across markets, media, politics and beyond. 

That’s why we’re introducing Crisis Frame, a strategic communications framework for high-stakes moments, designed to help organizations lead through disruption with clarity, speed and control. Today, we explore what that means in real terms.

ICYMI: We’re heading to Korea to support the annual APEC CEO Summit Oct. 28-31, where global leaders will gather to discuss how to drive sustainable growth and shape the future of the economy. In our latest newsletter, we look at why the summit matters. Read it here.

Interested in learning more or connecting on the ground? Reach out to our APEC team at apec@gga.nyc.

Little crises, everywhere.

In today’s environment, a single misstep can jeopardize not only an organization’s reputation but its license to operate. Regulatory scrutiny, public backlash, employee unrest and customer response can all escalate in hours, not weeks.

Why it matters: For communicators, the playbook is evolving. Preparedness isn’t just about reacting quickly, it’s about framing issues before they define you. In a landscape of rising expectations, eroding trust, and increasingly values-driven audiences, few organizations have crisis strategies built for today’s speed of information and scrutiny.

Understanding where risks originate is the first step toward readiness.

• Unanticipated Risks: Sudden, unpredictable events (whether accidents, scandals, or natural disasters) that demand immediate, coordinated response.
  
  • Example: Target faced intense backlash after scaling back several DEI initiatives earlier this year, with Placer.ai reporting that foot traffic was down 3.1% year-over-year. This week, the retailer announced plans to lay off 1,000 corporate employees and eliminate nearly 800 open positions.
     
• Episodic Risks: Recurrent issues that resurface over time, often triggered by new developments or media attention. These require proactive narrative control and consistent stakeholder engagement.
  
  • Example: Tesla has faced ongoing controversies surrounding Elon Musk’s public conduct, labor practices, and safety claims, which have directly impacted the company’s reputation and bottom line. The company lost $68 billion in value after Musk announced he was launching a political party earlier this year.

• Endemic Risks: Long-simmering, systemic vulnerabilities that escalate when left unaddressed. These are the most preventable and the most damaging if ignored.
  
  • Example: Boeing’s long-standing quality and safety issues, from the 737 MAX crashes to the 2024 door-plug incident, show how ignored systemic weaknesses can escalate into a lasting crisis of trust and governance.

Turning insight into action

Crisis Frame is grounded in a deep understanding of the broader landscape, pinpointing the challenges and opportunities that matter most to an organization’s stakeholders. It analyzes four key dimensions to guide strategy:

• Society: Cultural, policy and social influences shaping the external environment.
• Business: Market forces, financial pressures and economic dynamics.
• Sector: Competitive landscape, key players and opposing voices.
• Company: Brand positioning, leadership visibility and stakeholder sentiment.

By connecting these dimensions, Crisis Frame ensures communications are not only responsive, but resilient, relevant and reputation-protecting.

Areas of expertise

• Cybersecurity: Managing cybersecurity incidents, such as data breaches and ransomware attacks, with clear, effective communications that build trust and minimize reputational damage.
• Special situations: Leading corporate and executive change management to ensure seamless communications with key stakeholders.
• Consumer communications: Protecting brand reputation in fast-paced, consumer-facing environments.
• Healthcare: Providing reputation management and supporting patient and provider engagement in complicated situations.
• Litigation: Aligning communications approach with legal strategy to mitigate reputational impact.
• International Relations: Navigating cross-border media, cultural and geopolitical sensitivities.

The bottom line: Crises are inevitable, chaos isn’t. In an era defined by speed, scrutiny, and shifting expectations, readiness is a strategic advantage. 

Crisis Frame supports organizations at every stage, from emergency incident response to targeted project engagements to ongoing advisory partnerships, ensuring they’re always prepared to protect what matters most.

Interested in strengthening your crisis readiness? Connect with us at crisis@gga.nyc for a consultation.

Speaking of crises: Where does cybersecurity end and brand reputation begin?

That was the question at the center of a conversation this week between the Global Gateway Advisors team and Fidan Mirzad, CEO and Founder of FM Cyber and a self-described “data hostage negotiator.” 

What we learned: A cybersecurity incident is no longer just an IT problem; It’s a communications emergency. As AI increases the speed and scale of these threats, technical defense and public relations must work in tandem to defend both systems and reputation. The future belongs to teams that bridge the gap, combining technical precision with strategic storytelling to protect trust when it matters most.

Events: What’s coming up in November

• Forbes CIO Summit (New York City, Nov. 18) Join the world’s top CIOs as they explore how to harness rapid technological advances while mitigating emerging risks in an era of accelerating innovation. Speakers include Jae Evans, Global CIO & EVP, Oracle; Fletcher Previn, CIO, Cisco; and Katy George, Corporate Vice President of Workforce Transformation, Microsoft. More here
• WSJ CMO Summit (New York City, Nov. 18-19) Marketing leaders explore how to build and expand their influence through sessions on community-driven growth, evolving leadership, AI-powered engagement, and CMO-CEO collaboration. Participants include Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Mastercard; Alicia Tillman, CMO, Delta Air Lines; and Frank X. Shaw, CCO, Microsoft. More here
• Bloomberg New Economy Summit (Singapore, Nov. 19-21) Under the guiding theme “Thriving in an Age of Extremes,” global leaders convene in Singapore to explore how shifting power dynamics, disruptive innovation, and climate challenges are reshaping the world economy and to collaborate on building new alliances and strategies for sustainable growth amid rising geopolitical uncertainty. Speakers include Gina Raimondo, former Secretary of Commerce, United States of America; Raj Subramaniam, President & CEO, FedEx Corporation; and John Waldron, President & Chief Operating Officer, Goldman Sachs. More here 

Bookmark Global Gateway Advisors’ event tracker, updated weekly.

Media news + moves

• Trust in media has hit a new low. A Gallup poll found only 28% of Americans trust mass media to report the news “fully, accurately and fairly,” down from 31% last year and 40% five years ago — the first time the measure has fallen below 30%. Among Republicans, trust is just 8%, compared to 51% for Democrats and 27% for independents. More here
• AI licensing deals pay off for publishers. Outlets with OpenAI licensing deals see ChatGPT clickthrough rates nearly seven times higher than those without agreements — and while most traffic still comes from Google, referrals from LLMs are rapidly rising. This shift positions AI platforms — which tend to partner with premium, English-language publishers — as emerging gatekeepers of the news. More here
• Paramount buys The Free Press. As part of the $150 million deal, Free Press founder Bari Weiss will take over as editor-in-chief at CBS News, where she will report directly to owner David Ellison. “The combination of the Free Press and CBS News will create a news organization that ultimately becomes one of the most trusted destinations for news in this country,” Ellison said, amid reports that staffers were “freaking out.” More here
• Rothschild family selling Economist stake. Their 26.7% holding in The Economist, which carries 20% of voting rights, is valued at roughly $537 million. More here
• Axios Communicators Pro X Mixing Board. The two platforms are joining forces, rebranding as Mixing Board, powered by Axios, to create “a new, leading community for modern communications and corporate affairs professionals.” More here

Media moves:

• Jena McGregor was hired as managing editor of Charter.
• Bloomberg News hired J.J. McCorvey as a reporter covering investor and consumer protection.
• Stefanie Ilgenfritz, Colin Barr, Jennifer Maloney were among those laid off by The Wall Street Journal during a restructuring of its health, science and education teams. 
• Forbes hired Anna Tong to cover artificial intelligence out of San Francisco.
• Astead W. Herndon joined Vox as host and editorial director.
• Business Insider hired Henry Chandonnet as a consumer artificial intelligence and tech culture reporter. 
• William Gavin was hired by MarketWatch as a tech reporter.