Students can analyze U.S. government communications about the nationwide flight shutdown. They also might have fun finding memes to illustrate business communication principles.
When Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin described the ground stop, he walked up to a mic and started with the following:
What a day, right? Just to make sure that we understand, there is no indication, and we have no reason to believe, as of right now—that this was a threat to the United States. This was a telecommunications outage throughout FAA. . . . There was no prior indication, there was no indication, as of yet, of a nefarious attack against us; it’s just a telecommunications outage as of right now.
Of course, the first reporter asked about the “yet.” It seems that Mullin overemphasized that point (the repetition is a clue), and then doubled down, saying a bit too much about the possibility. He refers to the last ground stoppage, which was 9/11, and says “There’s no reason to be concerned,” which, of course, we all were. He talks too much, repeats himself, and plays with his ring, a possible indication of unease.
Mullin made the mistake of naming something and imprinting it in our minds. He chooses a negative frame (see George Lakoff, Don’t Think of an Elephant! and Nixon assuring us, “I’m not a crook”). Naturally, news reports included the headline, “This isn’t another 9/11.”
Perhaps another mistake is having the head of Homeland Security give the first briefing. If this isn’t a potential terrorist issue, why doesn’t someone from the FAA make the announcement? Later news conferences feature Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.
Also concerning are Mullin’s “telecommunications outage” and the FAA’s “extraordinary circumstances.” I’m not sure those explanations make people feel safer. As we learned later, a system “upgrade” for an outdated technology caused the problem.
Students might enjoy finding memes about the situation. For example, in this one, his exaggerated soft tone, coyness, and incredulous looks illustrate a lack of transparency and the downplaying tactic.