WASHINGTON — Witt O’Brien’s has acquired Strategic Crisis Advisors, a crisis management consulting firm specializing in corporate preparedness.  Since its founding in 2014, SCA has grown to serve a range of Fortune 500 companies including social media platforms, professional services firms, retail chains and universities. SCA will retain its Atlanta-based headquarters and its entire consulting team will join Witt O'Brien's.

SAN FRANCISCO — Creative agency Venables Bell & Partners and the issues-focused firm Rally have struck a partnership under which they will work together with organizations on positive impact initiatives. The partners will begin working with existing VB&P and Rally clients on furthering opportunities to create positive societal impact, and will then pursue projects with new partners. The team’s initial projects will launch later this year. 

NEW YORK — The agency Affect has launched a blockchain and cryptocurrency practice. The group will provide marketing, public relations, social media and community management support for Initial Coin Offerings, token sales and blockchain technology companies. SVP Katie Creaser will lead the practice. Affect has been working with clients and media on blockchain and bitcoin-related opportunities for the past four years. 

NEW YORK —Weber Shandwick’s latest Civility in America poll finds that amid severe political party conflict and divisiveness in America, the majority of adults (93%) agree on one thing: incivility is harming our democracy. According to the research, conducted with Powell Tate and KRC Research, Americans on both sides of the aisle agree that incivility is a major societal problem that is getting worse, promoting political gridlock, causing people to disengage from politics and leading to intolerance of free speech. Other findings include:
    •    83% of Democrats and 76% of Republicans believe that uncivil politicians encourage incivility
    •    75% of the public says incivility is leading to political gridlock
    •    60% say incivility has led them to stop paying attention to political debates or conversations
    •    59% say incivility is deterring people from entering public service.