Chilean Miners (Knowing your audience)
Brandi Kidd
BCOM/275
May 11, 2015
Yvonne Perez
Chilean Miners
On August 5, 2010, a San Jose Copper Mine collapsed, leaving 33 men trapped 2,300 feet below the Earth’s soil. The rescue crew spent many days trying to find out if any of the Chilean Miners where alive. After 17 days, the discovery was made and all the miners were alive.
Knowing your Audience
A disaster can strike at any day and any time. With that being said, it is crucial to have a plan in tact to inform family members and the public. The goal of having a plan is to prepare the audience and media with the correct information. The wrong information can lead to panic and a major crisis. The Chilean Mine collapsing is a prime example of knowing your audience.
There are many factors you must take into consideration when giving out information to the audience. As the speaker, you have to know the needs of the audience and make sure all information has been confirmed before talking with the audience. When family, employees, and media are informed with the information of the disaster, keep in mind not to blame anyone for the disaster. This factor will keep the company and members safe and will help keep a riot or any other altercations at a halt. Religion, and race can be a big issue in the communication process. The spokesperson whom is assigned to bear the news to the family, employees, and audience needs to use words with empathy and respect. The company should be in charge of contacting the family daily with updates and reassurance on their own family members. The employees will also need to be treated with as much empathy and respect as the family members. The company needs the employees to stand and work beside them. Having an employee leak out any kind of information can cause a major disaster in itself.
To the families:
On today, August 5, 2010, the San Jose mine of the San Esteban Mining Company has collapsed. It is estimated that thirty or more workers are trapped within the mine. The Chilean Government have prepared and started a rescue operation. Boreholes are being drilled into different locations to find the exact location of the miners. The rescue operations are expected to take a few days and we encourage the families to be patient. We will update the families with any new developments in the rescue operation. The boreholes are our key to sending food, water, and medicine to ensure the wealth of our miners. We believe, that the miners are alive, and with any new information of their rescue, families will be allowed to be with their relatives under the treatment of the hospitals. Local support groups have been provided by the San Esteban Mining Company. For more information, please call 555-555-5555.

To the employees:
On today, August 5, 2010, the San Jose mine of the San Esteban Mining Company has collapsed. Our workers have