Brian Williams: "I Said Things That Were Wrong"
Brian Williams will be replaced as NBC news anchor following an investigation into his reporting. In an interview with Matt Lauer, Williams admitted stretching the truth in some cases:
"It had to have been ego that made me think I had to be sharper, funnier, quicker than anybody else. Put myself closer to the action, having been at the action in the beginning."
He said he didn't intend to mislead viewers:
"I told stories that were wrong. It was not from a place where I was trying to use my job and title to mislead...I got it wrong. I own this. And I own up to this."
NBC announced the decision and Williams' replacement, Lester Holt, on its website. The company included a quotation from Steve Burke, CEO of NBCU, expressing confidence in Williams' future career at MSNBC:
"As you would imagine this was a difficult decision. Brian Williams has been with NBC News for a very long time and he has covered countless news events with honor and skill. As I said in February, we believe in second chances, and I am hopeful that this new beginning will be good for Brian and the organization. This matter has been extensively analyzed and deliberated on by NBC. We are moving forward."
In that news announcement, Williams offered this apology:
"I'm sorry. I said things that weren't true. I let down my NBC colleagues and our viewers, and I'm determined to earn back their trust. I will greatly miss working with the team on Nightly News, but I know the broadcast will be in excellent hands with Lester Holt as anchor. I will support him 100% as he has always supported me. I am grateful for the chance to return to covering the news. My new role will allow me to focus on important issues and events in our country and around the world, and I look forward to it."
Discussion Starters:
- Are you surprised at the decision after reading the news? Why did NBC executives move Williams to MSNBC rather than terminate his contract?
- How well did Williams handle the apology? What else, if anything, should he say at this point?
Pope Francis's Encyclical on the Environment
Pope Francis has weighed in on the environment, warning us about "unprecedented destruction of ecosystems" and terrible consequences. In a 184-page letter, the Pope criticizes our "throwaway culture" and appeals to our morality to address the issue. He highlights inequality throughout his message:
"The human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together; we cannot adequately combat environmental degradation unless we attend to causes related to human and social degradation. In fact, the deterioration of the environment and of society affects the most vulnerable people on the planet: both everyday experience and scientific research show that the gravest effects of all attacks on the environment are suffered by the poorest. For example, the depletion of fishing reserves especially hurts small fishing communities without the means to replace those resources; water pollution particularly affects the poor who cannot buy bottled water; and rises in the sea level mainly affect impoverished coastal populations who have nowhere else to go. The impact of present imbalances is also seen in the premature death of many of the poor, in conflicts sparked by the shortage of resources, and in any number of other problems which are insufficiently represented on global agendas. It needs to be said that, generally speaking, there is little in the way of clear awareness of problems which especially affect the excluded. Yet they are the majority of the planet's population, billions of people."
Although his tone is foreboding, Pope Francis does offer encouragement:
"Yet all is not lost. Human beings, while capable of the worst, are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start, despite their mental and social conditioning. We are able to take an honest look at ourselves, to acknowledge our deep dissatisfaction, and to embark on new paths to authentic freedom. No system can completely suppress our openness to what is good, true and beautiful, or our God-given ability to respond to his grace at work deep in our hearts. I appeal to everyone throughout the world not to forget this dignity which is ours. No one has the right to take it from us."
Discussion Starters:
- What's your view of the Pope's message? Why is he contributing in this way to the debate?
- Assess the value of an encyclical. What is the significance of this communication method?
President Addresses Charleston Shooting
President Obama held a news conference to address the tragic shooting at a Charleston, SC, church. Nine people were killed at a black church by a white man. The President said a hate crime investigation will begin.
Much of the news conference focused on gun control:
"We don't have all the facts, but we do know that once again innocent people were killed in part because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun. Now is the time for mourning and for healing, but let's be clear: At some point, we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries. It doesn't happen in other places with this kind of frequency."
The President also discussed our nation's history:
"‘The fact that this took place in a black church obviously also raises questions about a dark part of our history. This is not the first time that black churches have been attacked, and we know that hatred across races and faiths pose[s] a particular threat to our democracy and our ideals.'"
Discussion Starters:
- Critics say the President didn't say enough about the hate crime. What's your view?
- How well did the President address reporters' questions at the news conference. What advice would you give him for future sessions?
NAACP President and Questions About Race
The NAACP president of the Spokane, WA, chapter has resigned after facing claims that she has been impersonating a black person. Rachel Dolezal's parents say she was born white; the family adopted four black children when Dolezal was a teenager, which some speculate began her changed racial identity.
The NAACP released a statement supporting Dolezal and addressing threats to the organization.
Today, Dolezal announced her resignation in a Facebook post addressed to the executive committee and NAACP members. Here are two paragraphs from her statement:
"I am delighted that so many organizations and individuals have supported and collaborated with the Spokane NAACP under my leadership to grow this branch into one of the healthiest in the nation in 5 short months. In the eye of this current storm, I can see that a separation of family and organizational outcomes is in the best interest of the NAACP.
It is with complete allegiance to the cause of racial and social justice and the NAACP that I step aside from the Presidency and pass the baton to my Vice President, Naima Quarles-Burnley. It is my hope that by securing a beautiful office for the organization in the heart of downtown, bringing the local branch into financial compliance, catalyzing committees to do strategic work in the five Game Changer issues, launching community forums, putting the membership on a fast climb, and helping many individuals find the legal, financial and practical support needed to fight race-based discrimination, I have positioned the Spokane NAACP to buttress this transition."
Discussion Starters:
- What's your view of the situation?
- The NAACP refers to "a legal issue with her family." How much does this play into the situation?
- Did NAACP do the right thing by supporting Dolezal? Did she do the right thing by resigning?
Organic Farmers Displeased with Whole Foods
Whole Foods needs to complete with traditional grocery stores, which are offering more organic items. Arguably, Whole Foods created the market, but stores such as Costco, which sold $4 billion of organic foods in 2014, are increasing their food selection and offer lower prices and one-stop-shopping.
Responsibly Grown is the company's new strategy of labeling foods "good," "better," or "best."
Although Whole Foods claims to "Reward farmers who work hard to protect human health and the environment," organic farmers say they will no longer benefit from having a federal certified organic designation. According to an organic farmer quoted in The New York Times, "Becoming organic is a big investment of time and money. This ratings system kind of devalues all that - if you can get a ‘best' rating as a conventional farmer using pesticides and other toxic substances, why would you grow organically?"
According to The New York Times, the lines are increasing blurred:
"Conventional growers can receive higher rankings than organic farmers by doing things like establishing a garbage recycling program, relying more on alternative energy sources, eliminating some pesticides and setting aside a portion of fields as a conservation area."
Matt Rogers, associate global produce coordinator at Whole Foods, says the program gives consumers more choice and encourages conventional farmers to move toward the organic standard, which currently doesn't include "water, waste, energy, farmworker welfare."
Discussion Starters:
- Do you consider Whole Foods' new rating system ethical? Use the Guidelines for Ethical Decision Making in Chapter 1 to form your opinion.
- What's your view of the Responsibly Grown program? Do you tend to side with Whole Foods' or the farmers' perspective?
Twitter Announces CEO Change
Twitter CEO Dick Costolo will step down but remain on the board of directors. Costolo has been CEO since October 2010 and saw the company through an IPO, but performance has not met expectations. One of Twitters big investors wrote a long essay about how to improve the company. The stock was up between 7 and 8 percent in after-hours trading when the news broke.
Jack Dorsey, co-founder (with Evan Williams) and board chair, will serve as interim CEO while a search committee finds replacement. Twitter hired a PR firm to help manage the transition.
In a press release, the company quoted Costolo:
"I am tremendously proud of the Twitter team and all that the team has accomplished together during my six years with the Company. We have great leaders who work well together and a clear strategy that informs our objectives and priorities. There is no one better than Jack Dorsey to lead Twitter during this transition. He has a profound understanding of the product and Twitter's mission in the world as well as a great relationship with Twitter's leadership team. I am deeply appreciative of the confidence the Board, the management team and the employees have placed in me over the years, and I look forward to supporting Twitter however I can going forward."
According to TechCrunch, employees were fond of Costolo:
"Internally, sources say many employees loved Costolo. He brought order to Twitter when it was still in its chaotic adolescence, and turned it into a serious business. Whoever comes next will have to transition Twitter from something for news junkies and public figures to a service the average person can love."
Costolo got a standing ovation when he announced the news to staff.
Discussion Starters:
- If you were the project lead from the PR firm hired to help Twitter with the transition, what would you advise the management team? Consider the company's constituencies, message strategy, and media choice.
- What are the challenges for an incoming CEO, particularly following someone "loved" by employees?
NY Governor Responds to Prison Break
Governor Andrew Cuomo is on the hot seat responding to a prison break in Upstate New York. Two convicted murderers obtained power tools and escaped from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, NY.
A New York Times article says Cuomo sees the situation as a political "opportunity":
"Mr. Cuomo canceled a trip to the Belmont Stakes on Saturday so he could rush to the prison. In photos shared over social media, he peered into jail cells and climbed metal ladders in the belly of the 19th-century penitentiary.
"Television anchors invited Mr. Cuomo to narrate photographs and video of his visit to the prison and pressed him to sketch out the latest theories as to how the escape unfolded."
The end of this video shows Governor Cuomo touring the facility.
At a news conference, after officials describe the escape, Governor Cuomo confirmed what was said and asked for help from New Yorkers to find the convicts.
The Governor has the news and this photo under the "Pressroom" section of his website.
Discussion Starters:
- How well did the three men do in the news conference? As a member of public, did you get the information you need?
- Assess Governor Cuomo's part. What value did he add to the conference?
- How well did the men answer the questions (which are difficult to hear)? Pay particular attention to word choice and tone. When the Governor added on a response, was it valuable information?
FIFA President Announces Resignation
As the FIFA corruption scandal continues, the soccer organization's president was re-elected for a fifth term but then resigned. Although he wasn't one of the officials arrested, Sepp Blatter will be the focus of the U.S. investigation. The strategy is to pressure those indicted to reveal wrongdoing at the most senior levels in the organization.
In a resignation speech, which The New York Times reports was given to "a mostly empty room at FIFA headquarters," Blatter explained his decision:
"While I have a mandate from the membership of FIFA, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football-the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at FIFA."
Blatt leaves after serving 17 years at the organization.
On its website, FIFA quoted Blatt about "reform work."
"I had a good, constructive meeting with Mr. Scala to establish a framework for action and a timetable. I am pleased to take advice and guidance from Mr. Scala. I want a comprehensive programme of reform and I am very aware that only the FIFA Congress can pass these reforms. Furthermore, the Executive Committee has a particular duty to share the responsibility of driving this process."
Discussion Starters:
- Did Blatt make the right decision? Why would he run for re-election and then resign shortly after getting the job for a fifth term?
- What else should FIFA communicate at this point? How can the organization repair its image throughout the world?
FIFA Official Cites The Onion
One of the executives charged in the FIFA corruption case is defending himself with an article from The Onion, a satirical newspaper.
In a video claiming his innocence, Jack Warner, a former vice president of the soccer organization, points to the article, "FIFA Frantically Announces 2015 Summer World Cup In United States. Global Soccer Tournament To Kick Off In America Later This Afternoon."
NPR posted the full video, which was edited for Warner's website, as the author says, "presumably after much online hilarity."
Discussion Starters:
- In Chapter 9 of the book, we talk about the difficulty of distinguishing credible information on the web. I guess this applies to printed papers too? Should Warner have known better? What indicates that The Onion is a satirical paper?
- Watch Warner's video. Do you find his argument credible otherwise? What parts are most and least convincing?
Supreme Court Rules Against Abercrombie on Hijab
The Supreme Court settled a case about Abercrombie & Fitch for denying a Muslim woman a job because she wore a headscarf, or hijab, for religious reasons. After the applicant's interview, the assistant store manager deemed her qualified for the job, but the district manager said her hajib would violate the company's dress code.
This is a major win for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency that brought charges against the retailer. The Society for Human Resource Management summarizes the decision:
"In an 8-1 opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court held that an employer may not refuse to hire an applicant if the need for a religious accommodation was a motivating factor in the employer's decision, unless accommodation would pose an undue hardship.
"The prohibition on refusing to hire an applicant to avoid accommodating a religious practice does not apply, as Abercrombie argued, only where an applicant has informed the employer of her need for an accommodation."
Discussion Starters:
- What's your view of the case? Consider the legal requirements described by SHRM as well as Abercrombie's perspective.
- How would you react if you shopped at Abercrombie and saw an employee wearing a headscarf?
FIFA Responds to Accusations
FIFA officials, who run the international soccer association, have been accused of corruption.
In a presentation to FIFA Congress, president Sepp Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term of office, referred to "unprecedented and difficult times." Although he admitted, "The events of yesterday have cast a long shadow over football," he tried to separate himself, football, and FIFA, from the "actions of a few": "We cannot let the reputation of football, and of FIFA, be dragged through the mud."
Seven FIFA senior managers were arrested. The US Justice Department has accused 18 people total of accepting more than $150 million in bribes, which were handled as cash through three British international banks.
Blatter said he could "not monitor everyone all the time." But not everyone is convinced Blatter didn't know about the corruption. UK Prime Minister David Cameron has called for his resignation, "the sooner, the better."
FIFA's governance page provides additional statements about the situation.
Discussion Starters:
- Review information on FIFA's governance page. How well do you think the organization is handling the news?
- Do you buy Blatter's argument that he's not involved in the scandal? What convinces you either way?
- Should Blatter resign?
Hardee's and Carl's Jr. Promote Sex, Not Healthy Food
As other fast-food restaurants promote healthier menu options, CKE Restaurants is sticking with good-tasting food and selling it with sex. A Wall Street Journal article describes the company's new ads:
"New ads promoting 'The Most American Thickburger' feature Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Samantha Hoopes donning an American flag bikini as she frolics in a hot tub on the back of a pickup truck."
One burger weighs in at 1,000 calories, and the company isn't apologizing for it. In an interview, CKE's Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Brad Haley defends the strategy:
"We advertise in a way that appeals our target–young, hungry guys. Sometime they like attractive models. Sometimes our ads are funny or they have an edge to them.
"We are not afraid to take a chance to build our relationship with our target audience, 18-to-34-year-old males. If it's something they love but maybe their moms and dads don't approve of, in a lot of ways that can help us form a stronger bond with our target."
Haley responds to other pointed questions about "crossing a line," "scantily-clad models," ad spending, and the high-calorie food.
Discussion Starters:
- What's your view of CKE's strategy? Is the company missing a trend and a moving market, or is it appropriately targeting its customers?
- How well did the CMO respond to the reporter's questions? Which responses, if any, could be improved?
2015 Commencement Speeches
The lists and commentary are coming in. CNN and The Hollywood Reporter published their top picks of 2015 commencement speeches, and The New York Times and The Washington Post published advice to future speakers.
Perhaps the most talked about speech so far is from actor Robert De Niro at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts if not for the content than for his use of the "F-word." He warned graduates that their career choice may be a tough one:
"You discovered a talent, developed an ambition and recognized your passion. When you feel that, you can't fight it - you just go with it. When it comes to the arts, passion should always trump common sense. You aren't just following dreams, you're reaching for your destiny. ... You're an artist - yeah, you're f-d. The good news is that's not a bad place to start."
Other notable moments include Ed Helms' criticism of Rolling Stone's retracted story about rape at the University of Virginia: "
"It has been said that a rolling stone gathers no moss. I would add that sometimes a rolling stone also gathers no verifiable facts or even the tiniest morsels of journalistic integrity."
For more, Graduation Wisdom has compiled a list of speakers through June and offers "sketchbooks" of previous speeches: infographics if you don't want to listen to them on YouTube.
Discussion Starters:
- What's your view of Robert De Niro's use of an obscenity during his speech: offensive, funny, or something else?
- How do you think Ed Helms handled the University of Virginia controversy? If you were part of the university's administration, would you worry about his portrayal? Do you think the university pre-screened his speech? Do universities typically review speeches before they're delivered?
World Cup Sponsors Respond to Qatar Controversy
PR Daily has gathered statements from corporate sponsors Visa, Coca-Cola, and Adidas about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Reports of worker abuse and deaths and the detention of BBC journalists have sparked controversy about Qatar as FIFA's choice for the event. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has urged sponsor to speak out.
Visa was the first company to get FIFA's attention:
"We continue to be troubled by the reports coming out of Qatar related to the World Cup and migrant worker conditions. We have expressed our grave concern to FIFA and urge them to take all necessary actions to work with the appropriate authorities and organisations to remedy this situation and ensure the health and safety of all involved."
In response, FIFA issued this statement:
"FIFA has repeatedly urged publicly and with the highest authorities in Qatar that fair working conditions for all workers in Qatar are imperative.
"Migrant workers have been working for many global companies in Qatar for decades, yet only now is real change happening in their working conditions.
"While there are huge construction programs under way in Qatar that have no connection to the FIFA World Cup, it is clear that the FIFA World Cup is serving as a catalyst for significant change.
"FIFA, alongside trade unions and human rights organisations, will continue to urge the Qatari authorities to accomplish reforms and abolish the Kafala system. Ultimately, however, sustainable change in the whole country can only be reached in a collective effort with all stakeholders involved, including international companies and governments."
The Qatari government issued a statement about detaining BBC reporters:
"The Government Communications Office invited a dozen reporters to see-first-hand-some sub-standard labour accommodation as well as some of the newer labour villages. We gave the reporters free rein to interview whomever they chose and to roam unaccompanied in the labour villages.
"Perhaps anticipating that the government would not provide this sort of access, the BBC crew decided to do their own site visits and interviews in the days leading up to the planned tour. In doing so, they trespassed on private property, which is against the law in Qatar just as it is in most countries. Security forces were called and the BBC crew was detained."
The BBC expressed its dissatisfaction with the response:
"We are pleased that the BBC team has been released but we deplore the fact that they were detained in the first place. Their presence in Qatar was no secret and they were engaged in a perfectly proper piece of journalism.
"The Qatari authorities have made a series of conflicting allegations to justify the detention, all of which the team rejects. We are pressing the Qatari authorities for a full explanation and for the return of the confiscated equipment."
Discussion Starters:
- Read additional statements from Adidas and Coca-Cola. What else, if anything, should these companies say?
- Should the sponsors pull their support of the Word Cup 2022?
- What should FIFA do at this point?
Twitter Has More Work to Do
Twitter CEO Dick Costolo's promise to "take full responsibility" for hate and bullying on the site doesn't seem to be working. President Obama's @POTUS Twitter account received terrible threats and insults within just a few minutes of his first post.
In February, Costolo posted an internal message to employees, which included the following:
"We're going to start kicking these people off right and left, and making sure that when they issue their ridiculous attacks, nobody hears them."
Unfortunately, the company fell far short this week. The President's new Twitter account, which garnered 2.3 million followers in four days, received 500 "f-bombs" on the first day, according to The Washington Post. The Post also warned that tweets to @POTUS are archived forever. Maybe someday, users will regret posting despicable images of the President with a noose around his neck, for example.
Discussion Starters:
- Why do you think the President chose to start a Twitter account now, six years into office?
- Was this the right decision? Consider the benefits of having an account, the obvious downsides of the backlash, and perhaps less obvious issues.
- Some hateful tweets are promoted on Twitter. Should the company do more? Like what?
Blue Bell CEO Explains Layoff Decision
In an emotional message, Blue Bell Creameries CEO and President Paul Kruse explains the "agonizing decision" to furlough some employees and lay off others. The company is struggling to regain ground after a recall stopped production.
So far, the video post on Blue Bell's Facebook page received 1,022 likes.
In a press release, the company described which and how many employees are affected:
- Employees who are essential to ongoing operations and cleaning and repair efforts will continue to work but have their pay reduced.
- A second group of employees will be placed on partially paid furlough. They will be paid a substantial portion of their current pay, with the expectation that they will return to work as production resumes.
- Because there is not a clear timeline for when production will resume, and because supply and distribution will be limited when it does, a third group of employees will be laid off.
In total, "Approximately 1,400 employees will be furloughed, and approximately 750 full-time and 700 part-time employees-or 37 percent of the total Blue Bell workforce of 3,900-will be laid off."
Discussion Starters:
- Assess Kruse's video message: which principles of bad-news messages does he follow? How well does he deliver the news?
- Next, assess the press release: organization, word choice, tone, and so on. What works well, and what would you suggest the company improve?
- If you were an employee affected by this decision, how do you think you might react?
Zappos Loses 210 Employees
Back in March, Zappos announced a new management structure-or lack of structure-and offered employees three months' severance pay if they didn't want to deal with it. In CEO Tony Hsieh's email to employees, he explained the organization's process of Holacracy: moving towards self-management and self-organization. The company is striving to be a "teal organization" described in the book Reinventing Organizations.
Although 210 (14% of employees) chose the severance deal, it's unclear whether it's because of Zappos' management direction or a strong economy with better job opportunities. John Bunch, who's leading the effort at Zappos, said, "The offer was a big incentive to leave Zappos, and people took the offer for various reasons. Some Zapponians took it because they are not in line with the vision of the company, others took it to pursue other passions including starting businesses. Ultimately, however many people took the offer is the right number because they are doing what is best for them and for Zappos."
Hsieh has a history of offering employees money if they choose to leave the company. The company pays employees $2,000 if they quit. Presumably, this encourages people who aren't happy (and perhaps the company isn't happy with them either).
Discussion Starters:
- The Washington Post article is titled, "At Zappos, 210 employees decide to leave rather than work with 'no bosses.'" Is this a fair characterization given the quotation by Bunch?
- What's your view of Zappos' practice of offering money for employees to leave the company? What are the benefits and risks?
Restaurant Owner Slams Guest Who Wrote a Bad Review
It's not the first time, and it won't be the last. The owner of LA restaurant Sunset Terrace Restaurant & Bar didn't like a review and told all of us about it.
The original post was from June 2014, but Tyrone only recently replied.
The owner's response (read at your own risk!) referred to the guest as "ignorant, disgusting, miserable" and said "The world will be a little bit better of place once you no longer a part of it. [sic]."
After the predictable backlash, the owner posted a long response on his Facebook page. The first three paragraphs are below:
After all the interest in my admittedly vulgar Facebook post (which I intended to send to Brooke privately)
I think I should give an explanation as to how I came to choose such Spicy language towards her.
Below is the account of what actually happened according to the three (3) witnesses I spoke with immediately after the incident. (A customer who frequents Sunset Terrace several times a week, an off duty employee having lunch and my employee working at the time Crystal)
Discussion Starters:
- When you read Tyrone's entire Facebook post, you learn that the guest had insulted one of his employees. Does this justify initial response?
- How would you advise owners to handle negative reviews, keeping in mind that the guest may always be right-but not always fair or pleasant?
Facebook Encourages a $15 Wage and Other Benefits
Facebook is taking a stand to increase wages. In a statement, COO Sheryl Sandberg described new standards for companies who want to do business with Facebook. The first paragraph is shown here: 
Sandberg writes that this is "the right thing to do for our business and our community." She also mentions, "We've been working on these changes for some months and had originally planned to announce this last Monday." Monday was May 4; sadly, Sandberg's husband, SurveyMonkey CEO Dave Goldberg, passed suddenly on May 1.
Discussion Starters:
- What's your view of Facebook's position? Why would the company jump into this controversial debate? Consider Sandberg's history.
- Is it fair for Facebook to require these standards of its suppliers? What are the potential consequences? Read the entire post, so you know what the company is requiring.
- Why did Sandberg mention the company's original date for the announcement? How do you expect people to react to this?
Amtrak Posts Messages About Crash
An Amtrak train traveling from Washington, D.C., to New York derailed, leaving at least six people dead and more than 200 injured. The investigation has started with the obvious question about speed.
Passengers describe a horrible scene with items and bodies flying around the cars. Some people are still missing.
In the meantime, Amtrak posted two messages to its Facebook page. The first simply announced the accident and provided an emergency number for people to call. The second gave more information and conveyed the company's regrets:
Wednesday, May 13 2:45am
We are deeply saddened by the loss of life from Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 that derailed north of Philadelphia Tuesday evening. We ask the news media to be respectful of our customers, our employees, and their families.
There were approximately 238 passengers and 5 crew members on board. Individuals with questions about their friends and family on this train should call the Amtrak Incident Hotline 800-523-9101. Amtrak has also established a Family Assistance Center to work closely with family and friends of individuals on the train. Local emergency responders are on the scene and an investigation is ongoing.
On Wednesday, May 13, modified Amtrak service will be provided between Washington and Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Philadelphia, and New York and Boston. There will be no Amtrak service between New York and Philadelphia, but New Jersey Transit will honor Amtrak tickets between New York City and Trenton.
Other Amtrak Service between New York and Albany-Rensselaer; New Haven and Springfield, Mass., and other points will operate.
Additional updates will be provided when available.
Discussion Starters:
- Assess Amtrak's Facebook post. What works well, and what changes would you suggest?
- What else, if anything, should the company do or say at this point?