Chilean Mine Collapse Knowing Your Audience and Communication Release

Chilean Mine Collapse Knowing Your Audience and Communication Release

The Chilean mine collapse captivated the world when word spread of the 33 workers that had been trapped in a small apartment-sized mine shaft shelter. The needs of the families and employees of the company considered and the actions that need to be taken will be discussed in the following.

Consideration of the Audience

Considering your audience while reporting such a traumatic event is critical. The Author must be aware of what information should be deemed personal and also what information may have an impact on the families, the company, and the other employees not involved.

Getting the news out to the families fast and correctly is extremely important. Collect the details - what happened, who was involved, when did it happen, where did it happen, what was the cause, how did it occur, what are the next steps to be taken. Figuring out quickly exactly what information will be told to the families and what information will be given to the media. Inform the families of the people who were involved. The way in which the families are informed will depend on the severity of the problem. However, the issue should at all times be treated with the ultimate compassion, sensitivity, amiability and canniness.

The method in which to deliver a message in the sorts of bad news should most certainly be done face-to-face if at all possible. The families should most certainly be informed immediately and most certainly before any names of the people involved are released to the media. As many facts as possible should be given to the media to be sure that the news that is ultimately reported is as correct and reliable as possible. They will receive untrue information from invalid sources. As little but as much as possible information needs to be given to the families as quickly as possible. Be sure to keep them calm and assure them of a positive outcome.

Deep in the small mine, near the northern city of Copiapó, there are deposits of water and ventilation shafts that helped the miners to survive. But the mine is unstable, and rescue workers had to abandon efforts to dig past the main cave-in and down a ventilation shaft. The plan is to dig a new shaft to enable the miners to escape. Rescue workers say it could take around 120 days to reach them. Mining Minister Laurence Golborne said rescue workers would lower a camera and microphones to communicate with the miners. Mr. Piñera fired top officials of Chile's mining regulator and vowed a major overhaul of the agency in light of the accident. " (Reuters, 2010, pp. E2-E4)

Communication Example to the Families from the Mining Company

The message would be communicated face-to-face.

Hello loved ones of the employees trapped in the mines. First and foremost we at Compañia Minera San Esteban Primera would like to offer our deepest sympathies.