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Exxon Valdez

In: Social Issues

Submitted By mijaresabi
Words 1056
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I. SUMMARY/SYNTHESIS

• The Exxon Valdez tanker tore itself open in a reef in Alaska’s Prince William Sound and spilled more than 10 million gallons of crude oil on March 24, 1989. • Lawrence Rawl, the CEO of Exxon, stayed out of the public’s view for nearly a week which caused the publics to be antagonized and cause him to be seen as just an insensitive spoiler in the environment. • At the Exxon’s shareholder’s meeting on May 1989, he faced angry stakeholders and demonstrations that some demanded for resignation and suggested that he donate some of his $1.4 million annual salary to the clean-up. • Trying to limit the damage to its corporate image, the public relations staff of the company found itself playing catch-up with the press. They disseminated pictures showing Exxon volunteers rescuing sea otters and birds affected by the oil spill. • Exxon tried to win friends and influence but they were just criticized, which ended them to make life more difficult for the company because of the strategies. Networks also refused to at least create the impression of conflict of interest for the company.

II. ANALYSIS

The inappropriate and negative response Exxon did was that they did not take the full responsibility of the damage they have done. Exxon did not show compassion, as if the crisis was not important at all and just sent some other representative to speak for the company rather than the CEO. They failed to show a good public relations and even failed to win the public. When they tried to reach out to the publics, they looked like they were just showing off, lack of truthfulness and sincerity. They were seen as an insensitive company. This crisis affected the environment, which was I guess, a big part of the issue. Having damaged not just those nearby the area, the sea and the living creatures inside were also damaged and

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