The Unique Needs in the Chile Mine Crisis

By Eric Seidel, CEO

The Media Trainers, LLC

While many crises require psychological follow-up, the Chilean mining disaster has upfront need for strong, authoritative, positive psychological support and consultation in dealing with the media. A smart crisis management consultant will make this the highest priority, for this one promises to be long and tense.

If, indeed, management failed to meet safety standards, that seems to be a universal problem in mining worldwide, and those issues assuredly will be covered. But, the primary story here is how you keep the miners below ground and their families above ground under control. Frustrations on both fronts, coupled by the obvious “living” conditions the miners suffer, have very definite combustible potential. While the miners are not exposed to the media stories like their families, having to cope in such a small, dark space for months is an unimaginable challenge.

Managing expectations both above and below ground will take a Herculean effort, but management seems to already have begun that by projecting the rescue will be a four month project. Anything shorter will be celebrated as a victory.

The mining company has to maintain as much media focus as possible on the miners and their continued well-being. Media definitely will be watching that, but also looking at, and reporting on, the reported safety violations, and filing ongoing stories of how families are coping. Emotions and reactions will evolve as everyone deals with the frustrations of waiting, watching and wondering. Some will become impatient. They’ll be worried that some of the 33 miners may not survive.

Solid and consistent psychological advice and support is critical for these relatives as well as the mine’s management. Executives must make sure that the families are being cared for as much as their trapped men.This advice, too, should be accessible to the media to get their assistance in managing expectations. If not, the ongoing story could spiral further from their control.

The Wal-Mart of Online Sex Trafficking?

Pimps Welcome?

By Eric Seidel, CEO

The Media Trainers, LLC

“Say what you’ll do and do what you say!”

Good life advice, especially for the way you do business. Certainly it’s an axiom that has come back to haunt Internet entrepreneur Craig Newmark.

The “Adult Services” section of his Craig’s List, it seems, has become a popular place for pimps to solicit girls…especially underage girls. The list’s administrators promised to monitor solicitations and reject any that look or sound like they are selling sex.

Armed with that information and running a little test of her own, CNN reporter Amber Lyon went online and crafted a blatant solicitation. Her cell phone was quickly active with responses. Ironically, many of her callers assumed the popular police pseudonym “John” when she asked each guy for his name.

Armed with her evidence and the Craig’s List promise to monitor and remove these solicitations, reporter Lyon caught up with Newmark in Washington, DC, and confronted him.

Despite being ambushed, Newmark, seemingly relaxed and confident, submitted and answered her questions. But not for long. And, his demeanor changed pretty quickly. (Click on the video below.)

Whether you see this as a case of “The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” or “No good deed goes unpunished,” Craig Newmark probably had the best of intentions when he developed his online version of classified ads. And, we presume, he didn’t intend it to be used for illicit sex.

But Craig is an Internet pioneer, and so it’s reasonable to assume that he understands just how the Internet has changed the speed and reach of communications worldwide. He promised to carefully monitor the site and cleanse it of predators. Instead of admitting that Craig’s List failed to keep its promise, he tried to deflect by answering questions with questions.

He should’ve known better. Hopefully, after this experience, he now does!

Click here for the full CNN report.