Hynes Communications

What Hynes Communications does

Hynes Communications was a Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based digital communications agency founded in 2006, operating with a headcount of 1–10 employees. The firm specialized in web design, public relations, advertising, consulting, writing, and social media management, with positioning as "the nation's premier agency focused on digital media and online communications strategy." Its core capabilities centered on online advocacy, digital asset production, social media initiatives, content development, and integrated digital campaign execution for clients competing in the public arena.

In 2025, Hynes Communications merged with Novus Public Affairs, a public affairs firm established in 1996, and ceased to operate as an independent entity. The combined firm operates under the Novus Public Affairs brand as Novus Public Affairs, LLC, a private New Hampshire limited liability company. Post-merger, the service portfolio spans Grassroots and Grasstops Public Affairs, Land Use and Environmental Permitting, Digital Asset/Website/Media Production, Political Advocacy, Phone Vendor and Survey Services, Community Outreach and Advocacy, Media Relations/Public Presentation Training/Crisis Management, and Brand Recognition and Public Image services.

The firm's revenue model is services-based, delivering public relations and public affairs engagements on a project or retainer basis to a client mix that includes Fortune 100 companies, independent businesses, trade associations, and not-for-profit institutions. Vertical specialization spans commercial development, medical and pharmaceutical, energy and utilities, environmental, real estate and construction, and trade associations, with field operations supported by a nationwide database of political operatives. No proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capabilities, or productized offering is described in the available data; the business is fundamentally human-delivered professional services.

Name

Hynes Communications

Legal name

Novus Public Affairs, LLC

Website

https://hynescommunications.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hynes Communications is a Portsmouth, NH-based digital media and public relations agency serving Fortune 100 companies, trade associations, and institutions with web design, social media, advocacy, and communications strategy. In 2025 it merged into Novus Public Affairs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations and Public Affairs Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (54182), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Media Relations & Press Office Services (BPAFADAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Media Relations & Press Office Services (MPAAADAI)

Keywords

• Public relations services
• Public affairs consulting
• Digital communications strategy
• Grassroots advocacy campaigns
• Media relations management

Headquarters

HQ city

Portsmouth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Core offering

Hynes Communications provides web design, public relations, advertising, consulting, writing, and social media management services to businesses and institutions competing in the public arena. Following its 2025 merger into Novus Public Affairs, its digital media and online communications strategy capabilities have been folded into a broader portfolio that includes grassroots and grasstops public affairs, land use and environmental permitting, political advocacy, phone-based surveys, community outreach, media relations, crisis management, and brand recognition services.

Product overview

Hynes Communications has merged with Novus Public Affairs to form a unified public relations and communications agency. The combined entity offers a portfolio of advocacy and communications services including Grassroots & Grasstops Public Affairs, Land Use & Environmental Permitting, Digital Asset/Website/Media Production, Political Advocacy Services, Phone Vendor & Survey Services, Community Outreach & Advocacy, Media Relations/Public Presentation Training & Crisis Management, and Brand Recognition & Public Image services. Hynes Communications is characterized as the nation's premier agency focused on digital media and online communications strategy, which complements Novus's traditional public affairs capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grassroots & Grasstops Public Affairs
• Land Use & Environmental Permitting
• Digital Asset, Website, and Media Production
• Political Advocacy Services
• Phone Vendor & Survey Services
• Community Outreach & Advocacy
• Media Relations, Public Presentation Training & Crisis Management
• Brand Recognition & Public Image

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Novus Public AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerger announced between Hynes Communications and Novus Public Affairs. This merger strengthens Novus' advocacy, public relations, and communications capabilities, and allows the company to offer a range of additional services to its diverse and growing client base.

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Marathon Strategies: Boutique public affairs and strategic communications firm combining media relations, digital strategy, and crisis management for corporate and association clients — closely aligned with Hynes' integrated service model.
• The Herald Group: Mid-sized public affairs firm offering strategic communications, digital advocacy, media relations, and crisis management, with strong trade association and corporate federal affairs practices.
• Novus Public Affairs: Now the parent entity after the 2025 merger; operates an almost identical public affairs, grassroots, and communications service portfolio in New Hampshire and serves overlapping industry verticals.
• VOX Global: Public affairs and communications agency specializing in grassroots campaigns, coalition building, and media relations for corporate and trade association clients across regulated industries.
• Fenton Communications: Social change-focused public relations firm combining strategic communications, digital media, and advocacy campaigns for nonprofits, foundations, and purpose-driven corporate clients.
• Singer Associates: Independent public relations and public affairs firm with a strong digital, media relations, and crisis communications practice serving corporate, nonprofit, and public sector clients.

Broad incumbents

• BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe): Global communications agency with a substantial public affairs and issues advocacy practice, serving enterprise clients in healthcare, energy, and technology — direct overlap with Hynes' verticals.
• Weber Shandwick: Major global PR network with deep public affairs, healthcare, energy, and crisis capabilities — overlaps directly with Hynes' industry verticals at a much larger scale.
• Edelman: Global communications firm with a large public affairs and digital practice. Competes for the same corporate, association, and crisis mandates but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.

Emerging players

• Beacon Advocacy: Smaller digital-first public affairs firm focused on online advocacy, paid media, and campaign strategy for progressive causes and corporate advocacy clients — comparable digital-meets-advocacy positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/patjhynes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hynes Communications