...Knowing your Audience: Close your eyes Doug McGill BCOM/275 August 19, 2012 Eric Graves Close your eyes imagine that you are trapped in complete darkness with little to no room surrounded by 32 other men, the fear of no escape from a room smaller than the size of an average classroom, and you are half a mile underground with no way out. Unless, someone experienced this nightmare firsthand this would be difficult for anyone to imagine. This was the terrifying and exhausting reality for 33 Chilean gold miners August 5, 2010 through October 9, 2010. There are two difficult types of communication that the San Esteban Company faced. The Company had to address the families of the trapped miner’s and the rest of world. The considerations of roles the Company played when addressing the two different audiences will be discussed. And what actions were taken before and after the message was delivered to ensure that the messages were received as they were intended for each audience. Addressing the Audience Everyone experiences fear in their own way, but the thought of being trapped half a mile underground, 2600 feet, almost 900 meters is a terrifying thought for anyone. The miner’s from the San Esteban Mining Company lived through the fear of claustrophobia for 70 days in almost complete darkness. It took 17 days before the miners were discovered to be trapped and still alive. The miners made two days of food and water last 17 days. The miners were discovered through constant...
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...Thirty-three workers became trapped during a Chilean copper mine collapse near the northern town of Copiapó, Chile on August 5, 2010. The tragedy captured the attention of media, and audiences, around the world alike. Once reported, hopes and prayers went out the trapped workers, the workers families and the rescue workers from the hearts of many. During severe heart-wrenching incidents, such as this, it is important to consider the roles of those involved. The potential needs of the workers, whose lives were at stake, and the needs of their families become extremely important when discussing the incident. It is important to know how to address everyone involved while considering their needs. Waking up on August 5, 2010 was no different from any other day for these workers. The miners kissed and hugged their family members before heading off to work in the Chilean copper mine. The day had been the same as the day before for the miners. Close to the time for the miners to take their lunch break, the tunnel collapsed leaving them trapped 300 meters below ground level. Other miners feared that the thirty-three miners still inside the mine were in the disaster zone when the collapse happened. The workers that were trapped had to have been scared not knowing if they were ever going to be able to see loved ones again. For 16 days, the workers had no communication from the outside world, and no way for the outside world to communicate back to them. Fear, itself is scary, but fear...
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...Chilean Copper Mine Collapse The Chilean mine collapse in which over 30 workers were trapped in Northern Chile is an example where knowing your audience is important when you have to pass the information of the collapse. The incident in question (Weik, 2010), “San José mine, a small copper operation in northern Chile owned by Minera San Esteban Primera, suffered a cave-in on August 5, leaving 33 workers trapped underground. Rescuers are drilling holes in an attempt to locate the workers, but there is no official confirmation whether they would be alive after four days with limited food, water and oxygen. A second cave-in on Saturday forced rescuers to suspend works for several hours. Workers are trapped at a depth of around 300 metres.” It is the responsibility of the mine owner, to pass the information of the collapse to those who have family members trapped along with the co-workers of those trapped. The importance of timely and accurate information is critical in this type of information. In passing the information to the families of the trapped miners,” you should always break bad news to someone in person.”(Bonander, n.d.) This may not be made by the owner of the company necessary but it is his/her responsibility to ensure it is done, possibly by a public relations representative. Ideally this information would be passed face to face in the individual homes of the victims’ families. In this case many families may have already gone to the mine site when they first heard...
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...Chilean Mine Collapse Trapped in a mine for months is unimaginable. People wondering are their survivors and how the family will take the news. Many people are asking questions and so many people are waiting on responses. Communication takes center stage in this instance. Communicating such a tragedy to the families, certain steps need to be put in place. Consideration is to be taking when delivering a message to different audiences. The families of the Chilean Miners and the company’s employees are important when communicating something that will change lives. Consideration is important because remembering the different roles of people in the audience. Effective communication is vital. It is relevant the messenger considers and understands the features of the audience receiving the message. For an example, the miners, families, and media are important when the message is in preparation. There are different characters of people in the audience and how they receive the message is important. In this event, the person delivering the message must have readiness for questions and feedback. The potential needs of the family members are to make sure that the family is together when tell the family about the tragedy and the truth regardless of how much information that the team have at that present time. Some line of communication needs to be in place between the team and the families. The families would be told the news first, before the media gets it. The team in charge...
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...Chilean Mine Collapse Garret Rife BCOM/275 October 9, 2011 Randi Plante Chilean Mine Collapse On August 5, 2010 one of the worst things fathomable for the 121-year-old Copiapo copper mine located in Chile occurred. The mine collapsed on itself trapping 33 unfortunate miners in the process. They were trapped with no escape route open to them and were left to the perils of the unforgivable crawl space that they would now call home. "The buried men, who became known as "Los 33" ("The 33"), were trapped 700 meters (2,300 ft) underground and about 5 kilometers (3 mi) from the mine's entrance via spiraling underground service ramps"(“2010 Copiapo mining accident,” 2010). The mining company would now be faced with communicating the tragedy within not only the company, but with the trapped miner's families and loved ones. With such an audience at hand, careful consideration on delivery methods is of great importance. When a tragedy occurs, loved ones will often lose their cognitive and logical thinking abilities and essentially go into panic mode. One must collect data that will help to deliver the material at each level of understanding in an audience with such diverse roles. We are dealing with a different culture and background from our own with many different beliefs as well. The needs of the affected families involved with the "Chilean Mine Collapse" were assuredly sensitive and great caution was needed in communicating with them. Imagine a young...
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...Understanding Your Audience: The Chilean Mine Collapse Buss Comm 275/University of Phoenix June 24, 2013 On August 5th, 2010, news coverage began emerge about a gold and copper mine in Copiapo', Chile that had collapsed, trapping thirty-three men 2,300 feet underground. At that time it was unknown if there were any survivors. For 17 days family, friends, co-workers, and the World anxiously waited to hear if there would be any survivors in the mining accident. On August 22, 2010 a drill made it's way into the chamber where the men were. The miners sent word that they were alive. The events that would follow would leave the men trapped for approximately two months before they could safely be rescued from their sub terranian home (New York Time, 2011). The San Esteban Mining Company, who controls the mine was tasked with reporting grave information to the families and to the public. Having an already tarnished safety record, including three other mine collapses, the mining company was skating on thin ice in terms of their response to the current tragedy (Bonnefoy, 2010). Considering The Audience When a tragedy such as the mine collapse in Chile occurs, the business caught in the controversy has several items to consider about their communications with the outside world. In the case of the Chilean mine collapse, the San Esteban Mining Company was dealing with not only the family members of the trapped miners, but also other employees, the media and...
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...Chile Mining Accident BCOM/275 2/20/2012 Michael Strozzo Chile Mining Accident When dealing with life changing tragedies you have to strategize the way you deliver the news or message to loved ones. When a situation occurs at a business level there are chains of commands and protocols that are in place. If there is family and media involvement you have to be very particular on how credible and valid your information is. Actions have to be in place to ensure no miscommunications. The person appointed to deliver the message has to know audience and be good representative for the company. The owners of a Chilean Cooper Mine were faced with natural disaster in 2010, there mine caved in and left 33 workers trapped for 2 months. They were faced with delivering the message worldwide. A gold and copper mine near the northern city of Copiapó, Chile caved in, trapping 33 miners in a chamber about 2,300 feet below the surface. For 17 days, there was no word on their fate. As the days passed, Chileans grew increasingly skeptical that any of the miners had survived — let alone all of them. But when a small bore hole reached the miners’ refuge, they sent up a message telling rescuers they were still alive. (Chile Mining Accident 2010). For 17 days families, employees and the media were all skeptical if the miners were still alive. Many families were concerned and anxious for answers. At the time of relaying the message to families their cant be any miscommunications due...
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...you do in life. Whether between family, friends, coworkers, supervisors or even complete strangers, communication must be directed at the right audience. You would not communicate a certain personal issue to a family member the same way you would communicate it to a stranger. The stranger may have no clue what you are talking about, but your family member probably will understand and even help you determine a solution. This is especially true when dealing with business communication. A business must know the audiences they are addressing to be able to get their message across concisely and accurately but in a timely manner. With the Chilean copper mine collapse, communication had to be top notch. On Thursday August 5, 2010 the San Jose copper mine located in Northern Chile collapsed trapping 33 miners, 2,300 feet underground. The mine is owned by Minera San Estean Primera, who had to deliver the devastating news to the families, employees, media and the public. The mining company had to have someone in place to speak to these different audiences and relay the messages from the company. I can honestly say, I would not want to be in this person’s shoes. The first group they should address is the families and the employees. The information that is shared should be relevant, and what is known. It is up to the company to explain what will happen next and the planning stages required to locate the trapped miners. Families and employees should have access to constant communication...
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...stories of survival amazing, because it is always rewarding when people beat down an odd situation like this one. In august of 2010, I still remembered how the world followed the news of the 33 miners trapped underground in Chile for 69 days, it was at that time that I realized how the whole world only comes together to cooperate on tragedy events. Not matter, if you are American, Latino, African etc but when a natural disaster or a tragedy like that occurs the whole world comes together as one. When a tragedy like the one in Chile occurs the media has to be careful with the way that they inform. Why? Because there are many personal interests involved. On one side you have the business people who on this case are the owners of the mine and on the other side you have the families whose relatives are trapped “at a depth of around 300 meters.” (Weik, J).The owners of the business don’t want to be looked up as the evil people who are responsible for the tragedy and on the other side you have the family and all they want to hear is that their relatives are going to come out alive. I think that those are the consideration that you might have to remember in a tragedy like this one. On a calamity like this one, what the families want to know is how the incident went down and most important of all, they want to know is their relatives are alive and what are the chances of them coming out alive. Once the families know...
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...accident or disaster is important, as you are people with a fragile situation and fragile people involved. If a company portrays, through their messages, that the situation is not under control or that they do not care there will be consequences for that company and anybody affiliated with the company. When there is information regarding an accident or disaster, it's important for the company know their audience. For instance, the San Esteban Mining Company needed to know how to respond to each of the audience (families, employees, and the stakeholders) in the case of the Chilean copper mine in South America. It was on Thursday, August 5, 2010, a shaft collapsed in the Chilean copper mine trapping 33 miners 2,300 feet below ground. Immediately, a rescue mission was underway, however, another collapse in the mine stalled the efforts of the rescue crews for hours (Weik, 2010). The 33 miners remained trapped in the mine for more than two months; during this time the world kept watch as the government upheld a communications strategy that focused on openness, solidarity, and cooperation (Yaxley, 2010). The San Esteban Mining Company chose not to communicate and because of that it became a media frenzy. The owners should have taken an active role when the accident happened. Instead, they chose to remain silent which made matters even worse. Companies can take steps to avoid a delay in communications. "There are no...
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...Knowing Your Audience Paper and Communication Release Bridgette Smith BCOM/275 June 24, 2013 Knowing Your Audience Paper and Communication Release A company always needs to issue information to another organization or a group of people it is imperative the company knows their audience. When information regarding a accident or disaster, it's important for the company know their audience. For instance, the San Esteban Mining Company needed to know how to respond to each of the audience (families, employees, and the stakeholders) in the case of the Chilean copper mine in South America. It was on Thursday, August 5, 2010, a shaft collapsed in the Chilean copper mine trapping 33 miners 2,300 feet below ground. Immediately a rescue mission was underway, however, another collapse in the mine stalled the efforts of the rescue crews for hours (Weik, 2010). The 33 miners remained rapped in the mine for more than two months; during this time the world kept watch as the government upheld a communications strategy that focused on openness, solidarity, and cooperation (Yaxley, 2010). The San Esteban chose not to communicate and take the leadership role, and because of that it became an all out media frenzy that eventually. The owners should have taken an active role when the accident happened. Instead chose to remain silent which made matters even worse. Companies can take steps to avoid a delay in communications. "There are no recipes that can assure success in dealing with crisis...
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...Chilean Copper Mine Collapse: news release to family 1 Andrey Maas BCOM/275 January 30, 2013 Toya Belgin Chilean Copper Mine Collapse: news release to family 2 We come before you today humbled by tragedy, as we reluctantly must inform you that our San Jose mine has collapsed trapping your loved ones inside. It happened on August 5, 2011 around 3 o’clock. At this time it is unsure of what actually caused the mine collapse, we do not know the physical condition of those trapped inside, nor do we know of any fatalities at this time. We were able to identify the personnel who were missing after the collapse, and it is unfortunately and with regret that I have to inform you that these men are your loved ones. I come to you face to face because, I and this company has always treated and thought of everyone in this company as one family. At this time we have numerous rescue specialists, and organizations working on determining different strategies and approaches that we will use to get to the men that are trapped down below. I would like to inform you that we have also informed the Regional Governor, Ximena and Governor Nicolas Noman and a Minister of Mining, Laurence Goldborne...
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...guarantee the successfully code and decode of the message. An inadequate misunderstanding of your audience can lead to a poor delivery of information. During the unfortunate event at the Chilean Copper Mine Collapse the most important consideration to anyone in the audience was to hear the wellbeing of the miners. The families of the miners and the employees of the company must receive the message differently, according to their needs and persuasion of the situation. Some precautions must be placed before the messages are share to family members, company employees, and media. When communicating tragedy news with family members, the company must deliver the information of the mine collapse with an extreme level of tact, clarity, hope, and assurance that their loved ones will survive this incident. Once the family members are receiving information about the situation is extremely important to keep updating continuous information about the situation, family members need to keep high hopes of their loved ones survival is important to them. The company must deliver the most current information to his employees to create stability, strategies, safety issues, and hope among them. The needs of the family members and company employees may be similar because they are affected by this tragedy. Addressing their needs separately will help them understand the efforts the company is putting to provide a solution to this...
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...Knowing Your Audience September 2014 Debate Topic The idea of the speaker being able to connect with his audience is extremely important. This is especially true during disasters such as the one that struck the Chilean copper mine on August 5, 2010. This incident involved 33 men becoming trapped 2300 feet below the ground and under 700 meters of granite. It is important that managers understand the components of communication and how to direct that communication effectively to both the families of the trapped miners and the employees of the company. Considerations for the different roles and people of the audience Each person concerned and connected to the individuals that are trapped has their own unique requirements, which the speaker must consider prior to any message being delivered. The families of the victims required information in efficient yet timely manner. They need to be assured that the company is doing everything within its power to help free if family members. Employees also need to be informed in a timely manner to allow foreign assistance from volunteers as need be. Employees also must be informed of the current situation to help avert fears of a similar disaster occurring in other locations. Communication must also be maintained with media outlets but this should occur only after contact has been made with family members and employees. Needs of the families receiving the...
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...Chilean Copper Mine Collapse Pat Jones BCOM/275 Ronald Baker When dealing with a natural tragedy like the Chilean Copper Mine Collapse there are a lot of factors that need to be taken into consideration when dealing with mishaps like this. There are legal factors that need to be considered first before the company can outreach to anyone. The first release will be the one to the families and internal staff of the mining company. The second will be the statement made to the local news and general public. Will show how the organization plans to ensure how the statements are not misinterpreted. The first statement should be made to families and staff in a face to face setting so that the families can see the concern and worry that the company has for all the miners that are directly involves and those that are indirectly involved. The statement should be face to face so that there is a chance to explain what is known and what is in the planning stages the rectify the situation and free the trapped miners. The statement will also inform all that are impacted by the incident of the different channels that are going to be in place or are already in place to help all that are impacted to get the help that they are going to need. The statement would also detail the latest plan to get the trapped miners out of the mine. It would also include the locations of where the mines were working and where the closest safety point where food, water, and fresh air is located...
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