1992/03/01 by David E. Williams, Glenda Treadaway · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Business, Management and Accounting · #Public Relations and Crisis Communication #Securities Regulation and Market Practices #Consumer Market Behavior and Pricing #Scapegoating #Crisis communication #Oil spill #Accident (philosophy) #History #Sound (geography) #Political science #Economy #Public relations #Law #Geography #Environmental protection #Politics #Economics
paper · doi:10.1080/10510979209368359
openalex publication_date 1992/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
The March 24, 1989 grounding of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker on Alaska's Prince William Sound caused severe damage to both the local environment and Exxon's corporate image. This essay examines the strategies employed by Exxon while attempting to manage the Valdez crisis. The essay argues that Exxon's crisis communication efforts failed because of a slow initial response, and an ineffective use of burden sharing and scapegoating strategies.