Companies Distance Themselves from the NRA
Following the school shooting in Florida, several companies are distancing themselves from the National Rifle Association. The organization lists many member benefits on its website, including travel and insurance discounts, but these are shrinking as more companies are discontinuing services.
For example, several major car rental companies—Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo Rent a Car, National Car Rental, Avis, Budget, and Hertz—and major airlines, such as United Air Lines and Delta, will eliminate discounts for NRA members.
The NRA posted a statement on its website to deflect blame, reinforce its mission, and deny the impact of these companies' actions:
FAIRFAX, VA – The more than five million law-abiding members of the National Rifle Association have enjoyed discounts and cost-saving programs from many American corporations that have partnered with the NRA to expand member benefits.
Since the tragedy in Parkland, Florida, a number of companies have decided to sever their relationship with the NRA, in an effort to punish our members who are doctors, farmers, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, nurses, shop owners and school teachers that live in every American community. We are men and women who represent every American ethnic group, every one of the world’s religions and every form of political commitment.
The law-abiding members of the NRA had nothing at all to do with the failure of that school’s security preparedness, the failure of America’s mental health system, the failure of the National Instant Check System or the cruel failures of both federal and local law enforcement.
Despite that, some corporations have decided to punish NRA membership in a shameful display of political and civic cowardice. In time, these brands will be replaced by others who recognize that patriotism and determined commitment to Constitutional freedoms are characteristics of a marketplace they very much want to serve.
Let it be absolutely clear. The loss of a discount will neither scare nor distract one single NRA member from our mission to stand and defend the individual freedoms that have always made America the greatest nation in the world.
Discussion:
- Did these companies make the right decision? Some NRA members are boycotting them as a result.
- In its statement, the NRA refers to companies' "shameful display of political and civic cowardice." Do you see their actions as cowardice, courageous, or something else? What is the difference?
NYU Criticized for Racially Insensitive Menu Items
One of the NYU dining halls created new menu items to observe Black History Month. Unfortunately, the items reinforced racial stereotypes and weren't well received, according to a New York Times report:
"Barbecue ribs, corn bread, collard greens, and two beverages with racist connotations: Kool-Aid and watermelon-flavored water."
After a sophomore, Nia Harris, complained about the menu and didn't get a satisfying response, she wrote an email calling the decision "racially insensitive" and "just ignorant." She described her perspective and experience in a Facebook post:
Harris seems more concerned about the failed response than the initial decision to create the menu. Clearly, staff members could have handled this situation differently.
Later, the university did respond, including statements from Aramark to which dining at NYU is outsourced.
Discussion:
- Describe Harris's point of view. What were the university's missteps in this situation? Why do you think Harris didn't get a better response?
- Assess the university's response. They blame Aramark. Is that appropriate in this case? Why or why not?
- Now assess Aramark's two statements. How well does the company address the criticism?
Students Fight for Gun Control
After the school shooting that killed 17 people in Florida, students across the country are protesting for tighter gun control laws. High schoolers left their classes to confront politicians on their failure to change laws and for taking money from the National Rifle Association. Delaney Tarr was one of the vocal students:
"We've had enough of thoughts and prayers. ... If you supported us you would have made a change long ago and you would be making change now. So this is to every law maker out there. No longer can you take money from the NRA ... because we are coming after you."
Adding fuel to the controversy, some GOP members have accused students of being hired actors. Rep. Daryl Metcalfe criticized the protests:
“This morning I was working out and listening to the news about ‘students’ being bussed in to the Florida Capitol. The hypocrisy of the left struck me! They expect lawmakers to listen to the policy advice of 18 year old and younger ‘students’ who are advocating for gun control, but they do not believe 18 year olds who are old enough to serve on the battlefields of Afghanistan are old enough to purchase a rifle.”
Other Republicans, such as Marco Rubio, contradicted such messages, calling claims that students are actors “the work of a disgusting group of idiots with no sense of decency.”
Discussion:
- In what ways are students demonstrating courage? What obstacles do they face as they protest for greater gun control?
- Assess students' messaging. How do they balance emotional appeals and logical arguments? Which are most effective in this situation?
- What do Republicans want from this controversy? In other words, what are these lawmakers' interests? How do their criticisms of the students help or hurt their case?
Facebook Under Fire for Russian Interference
Facebook is facing more criticism following detailed reports of how the Russian government infiltrated U.S. social media platforms during the 2016 election. The report cites Facebook as the target for Russian bots far more than any other social media site.
Since the Florida school shooting last week, we see evidence of Russian bots weighing in on gun control. Experts say these efforts are to divide the American people on political issues and are "casting public doubt on institutions such as the police or the media."
Facebook is taking action, but it's been slow, and experts wonder how much the company can do at this point. A Wired article details Facebook's journey to accountability, with much time spent in denial. Now, Facebook promises to verify accounts for election ads, but critics say it won't be enough.
In a report, Facebookers point to inherent problems with the platform:
“The central problem of disinformation corrupting American political culture is not Russian spies or a particular social media platform,” they write. “The central problem is that the entire industry is built to leverage sophisticated technology to aggregate user attention and sell advertising.
“There is an alignment of interests between advertisers and the platforms. And disinformation operators are typically indistinguishable from any other advertiser. Any viable policy solutions must start here.”
Discussion:
- What's your view of the situation and Facebook's responsibility. Is the company doing enough?
- How could Facebook re-envision its platform to avoid the problem of infiltrators on the site?
- Read the report, Digital Deceit. What business communication principles are followed, and how could the report be improved?
Adam Rippon Demonstrates Authenticity and Questions Pence
U.S. Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon has been public about being gay and having a history of an eating disorder. Rippon says he felt pressure to fit a particularly body image and sometimes starved himself to achieve it.
In January, Rippon said he would refuse a meeting with Vice President Mike Pence because of his support of "conversion" therapies, attempts to change someone's sexual orientation or gender identity. Pence denied the claim and expressed support for all athletes:
“The accusation is totally false with no basis in fact," Alyssa Farah, Pence's press secretary, stated. "But despite these misinformed claims, the Vice President will be enthusiastically supporting all the U.S. athletes competing next month in Pyeongchang.”
However, an NBC article identifies a message on Pence's website that supports Rippon's claim:
Under the headline "Strengthening the American Family" and just below his stated opposition to same-sex marriage and anti-discrimination laws protecting "homosexuals," Pence's platform advocates that resources "be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior."
Discussion:
- What's your view of Rippon's statement?
- Explain VP Pence's statement given his documented platform? How do you reconcile the claims?
- In what ways does Rippon demonstrate authenticity?
Merck CEO Explains His Decision to Speak Out Against President Trump
Merck CEO Ken Frazier was the first to speak out after hearing President Trump's response to the violence in Charlottesville, VA. He left the President's American Manufacturing Council and started a trend for others to follow. In a recent New York Times interview, Frazier explains his decision:
“In that moment, the president’s response was one that I felt was not in concordance with my views. And I didn’t think they were in concordance with the views that we claim to hold as a country.”
“I wanted to say that this was a statement I was making in terms of my own values, and the company’s values, and there was unanimous support for that,” he said. “My board supported that 100 percent.”
In the interview, Frazier tells of another time he demonstrated courage—when he fought for the release of a man on death row.
Discussion:
- Explain what might be Frazier's decision process for leaving the council.
- Do you think he made the right decision? Why or why not?
- How does Frazier demonstrate courage?
News Conference About Florida Shooting
Officials have made statements about the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead and another 16 injured. Themes focus on healing—giving families and others affected time to mourn, charging the perpetrator, and preventing similar incidents from happening in the future.
As we typically see in these news conferences, multiple people give their perspective, and we may see the influence of their role and their personal views.
Political conversations about the FBI's role and gun control have already started. President Trump also made a statement after the tragedy.
Discussion:
- Analyze each person's contribution to the news conference. How do you see their role and their personal views affecting what they say and how they say it?
- What's your view about the political conversation: should we avoid talking about gun control now, or it this the best time? How do your own political views factor into your perspective?
Yale's Happiness Class
When Yale University offered a new course, "Psychology and the Good Life," it was wildly popular: 1,200 students signed up, which is 25% of Yale's study body and the largest number of students to enroll in any Yale course.
Laurie Santos, the psychology professor who developed the course, faced criticism. Some claimed that the course was too easy. Students can take it pass/fail, and homework isn't collected, but Santos says, "With one in four students at Yale taking it, if we see good habits--things like students showing more gratitude, procrastinating less, increasing social connections--we're actually seeding change in the school's culture." Another criticism is that the high enrollment left other Yale classes empty. In addition, because of the size, hiring adequate staff was challenging.
So, the university will not offer the course again. Too bad. Santos said she wanted to offer the course to address the high incidence of mental health concerns at the school.
Students are obviously stressed. Santos joked in class that she was going to give everyone a D to see whether the grade would make them unhappy. Instead, she got concerned calls from parents and deans.
Discussion:
- What is the latest research about happiness? Find a few recent studies as evidence.
- What's your view of Yale's decision to end the course?
- Other than a course, how can students learn about the science of happiness?
Shark Tank Example: Learning from Failure
On a recent Shark Tank, two entrepreneurs sought investment in their dog water company—flavored water for your favorite pet to drink. The sharks weren't excited, and Robert Herjavec summed up the sentiment: "My challenge is with you." He then listed the reasons the founder gave for not being farther along with the business, and they were all outside her control. At one point, the founder blames the economy and the company's inability to get a business loan.
The founder doesn't quite understand—or doesn't acknowledge the criticism. She responds with, "But I'm still here!" and seems to miss the point entirely.
The end is also awkward. It takes a while for her to leave because she's still selling even after all sharks are "out."
Discussion:
- How could the entrepreneurs demonstrate humility and their ability to learn from failure? In other words, how can they describe their setbacks in a way that doesn't turn off investors?
- How do you view the founder's last couple of minutes with the sharks? I admire persistence, but is it too much? If so, why?
Delta Representative Confronts Customer—on Video
When a Delta flight from Honolulu to Portland, OR, was delayed twice, a customer was re-booked on a Hawaiian Airlines flight, but his luggage didn't make it.
We don't see the context, but the passenger filmed (NSFW) an interaction with Delta staff, and the scene doesn't reflect well on the company. In the video, one of the agents says, "You can take my f-- picture if you want to, a--hole." He then suggests they call the police because "This guy's out of control."
Delta replied to the incident with a statement:
"The actions displayed by this employee do not in any way reflect the standard of customer service and professionalism we expect from our employees. This conduct is unacceptable, and we have reached out directly to the customer and apologized."
The employee was suspended.
Discussion:
- The employee has little excuse for his behavior, but could some context at least explain the agent's reaction? For example, why would he say, "This guy's out of control?"
- Did the passenger act appropriately? What is his responsibility for the interaction?
- Should the airline reinstate or fire the agent?
Tweets Cause Journalist to Lose Job Offer
The New York Times has rescinded a job offer to a journalist because of reactions to some of her tweets. Criticism about Quinn Norton came after people discovered her relationship with a neo-Nazi called "Weev." Norton referred to him as a friend. The Times also reported new information about Norton: "It also turned up years-old tweets by Ms. Norton in which she used slurs against gay people and another in which she retweeted a racial slur."
We know that most recruiters use social media to vet candidates. The practice is controversial: some believe it's an invasion of privacy, while others believe it's potentially discriminatory. In this case, information was discovered about Norton after an offer was extended, which led to the awkward situation of pulling the offer. Other companies will do a thorough review of candidates before an offer is made.
According to Jobvite's 2017 Recruiter Nation report, recruiters disapprove of candidates' "political rants" online. This situation may fit that category.
Discussion:
- What's your view of companies "Googling" candidates? What are the arguments for and against this practice?
- Did the Times make the right decision? Why or why not? Read more about Norton's views here.
- How does Norton's potential job with the New York Times affect the outcome? Would a different media company have made a different decision? In other words, how is this an issue of integrity?
- Norton chose not to disclose her social media history. Would her vulnerability have helped or hurt her candidacy at the Times?
L.L. Bean: Return Doesn't Mean Lifetime Replacement
L.L. Bean has had it with customers who abuse their generous return policy. The company is making two major changes: customers must return products within one year unless they are damaged, and customers must produce a receipt.
A company spokesperson explained the decision:
"If it's been over a year and someone is able to provide a proof of purchase and if the product does not fall within one of our Special Conditions such as products damaged by misuse, abuse, pet damage, personal reasons unrelated to product performance or satisfaction and more, we would honor the return."
Although it was a small percentage of customers, some had taken advantage of the product "guarantee." The question we might ask is, Why did it take so long? Or, why now?
Discussion:
- Why do you think L.L. Bean waited until now to tighten the return policy? What are the potential consequences of the decision?
- Assess the message to customers. Who are the primary and secondary audiences? How well does the message meets its objectives?
- How do you see this as an issue of integrity? How is L.L. Bean demonstrating learning from failure?
Newspaper Apologizes for Cartoon
The Albuquerque Journal in New Mexico issued an apology for a cartoon some call racist. Critics say the image advances "the most false and negative stereotype of DREAMers." Of the states, the Hispanic population is highest in New Mexico—48.5%.
In a statement, editor Karen Moses explained the paper's view:
Political cartoons are often satire and poke at more than one point of view. I do not presume to know what cartoonist Sean Delonas was trying to convey in his cartoon that was published in Wednesday’s Albuquerque Journal. But on one level it appeared to us to be poking at President Trump’s rhetoric by portraying a quaking Republican couple who were painting Dreamers with a broad, totally false, brush.
Obviously, that was not the message received by many readers. Instead, many saw an extremely objectionable cartoon and thought that was the position of the Journal. It is not.
In hindsight, instead of generating debate, this cartoon only inflamed emotions. This was not the intent, and for that, the Journal apologizes.
I repeat that the Albuquerque Journal does not condone racism or bigotry in any form.
I also want to reiterate that we do not agree with many of the opinions expressed on the editorial pages, which are intended to encourage debate. Also, the editorial board decides what to publish on these pages, and that is separate from the newsroom and its reporters.
News agencies report conflicting data about crimes rates among immigrants. Compare data presented by The New York Times and Breitbart.
Discussion:
- What's your view of the cartoon: funny, offensive, or something else?
- How well did the newspaper editor handle the response?
- Compare data from these two articles about immigrants: The New York Times and Breitbart. What do they each analyze, and how do they present the data? How do you explain the differences?
Missed Opportunity for a Graphic
A Business Insider article compares state income tax rates in a list of pictures and data points. The beginning of the article conveys the main point: how much you pay depends on where you live. As you might expect, rates are highest in California.
The site offers the list of city photographs and numbers on one page or as a sequence of slides. Both versions emphasize pretty pictures but make it difficult to compare data from different states.
Also, the range for each state is so broad that the information makes meaningful comparisons difficult.
Discussion:
- Should pictures get most of the attention? Why or why not?
- What are better ways for Business Insider to represent this information graphically?
Misleading Headlines About the Market Dip
The stock market took a dive this week, but headlines are making it sound worse than it is. Here are three examples:
- FoxNews: "Investors hope for reversal after biggest stock market dip of all time"
- The Guardian: "Australian and Asian stock markets slide after Dow suffers biggest one-day points fall – as it happened"
- CNBC: "Dow's nearly 1,600-point plunge marks its biggest one-day point drop ever"
The headlines are technically correct that a nearly 1,600 point decline is the largest in U.S. history, but looking at only the point value is misleading. A percentage drop would be a better indication of the effect. This table represents the largest daily stock market losses. The display below is sorted by point loss; the table at right is sorted by percentage. You can see that 2018-02-05 falls in rank when we look at the percentage.
Also, the stock market has had incredible gains this past year, so the 26,000+ value could be viewed as an anomaly, and most analysts didn't believe those gains were sustainable.
Discussion:
- What are the ethical considerations for news agencies publishing these headlines?
- What might be a more appropriate headline for the news?
Perhaps this one-year chart helps keep the loss in perspective. It includes today's rebound of 567 points.
Critics Say Bank of America Fees Hurt People with Less Income
Customers want Bank of America to stop charging fees for accounts with low balances. The company ended its free checking account and will start charging $12 per month.
Critics say the decision disproportionately hurts low-income consumers. The president of a financial advocacy organization explains the consequences:
“The debate over Bank of America’s accounts and fees points to a larger economic justice issue — people with less income pay more to get cash, make payments, and conduct their business. Without access to safe and affordable bank accounts, low-income consumers often turn to costly alternative financial services, such as currency exchanges or check-cashers. The bottom line is: the most financially vulnerable need more and better options to transact their business and participate in the financial mainstream.”
Few big banks still have free checking options because they are expensive to maintain. Banks prefer to move customers to digital solutions. But many low-income people don't have smartphones or reliable internet access. More than 287,000 people have signed a Change.org petition.
Discussion:
- What's your view? Is Bank of America being unfair, or is this just a good business decision?
- What is the value of a petition? On what principles of persuasion does a petition rely?
- How well does the image on the petition site, shown here, work? The emotional appeal is obvious. Does it help or detract from the message?
Best and Worst Super Bowl Commercials
The Washington Post published its list of best and worst commercials in the 2018 Super Bowl. As usual, all ads were heavy on humor and other forms of emotional appeal.
The most popular ad seems to be "It's a Tide Ad," which pokes fun at Super Bowl ads for beer, jewelry, cars, and so on.
"Alexa Loses Her Voice" was also popular. Alexa is sick (with the flu?), and replacement Alexas don't live up to her standards, failing to give directions, set the mood appropriately, and play country music.
In the Post's worst list is a Dodge Ram ad that used a Martin Luther King quote. The company confirmed that it worked with his estate for the appropriate approvals, but not everyone thinks it's wise to use MLK's words to sell cars.
Discussion:
- Which were your most and favorite Super Bowl commercials? On what do you base your assessment?
- What's your view of the Dodge Ram ad?
Questions of Transparency
The long-awaited memo written by Republican staff members about potential impropriety from the Justice Department and F.B.I in the Russia investigation has been revealed. Now, The New York Times editorial board is calling, once again, for President Trump to reveal his tax returns:
Since the Republicans are now on board with greater transparency, they will no doubt push President Trump to release his tax returns, as every other major-party presidential nominee has done for the past four decades, won’t they?
How about the White House visitor logs, which the Trump administration started hiding from the public last year? Or, say, the names of all foreign governments and officials who have stayed — at their own or at American taxpayers’ expense — at Mr. Trump’s Washington hotel, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida or at his golf courses and his other businesses since he became president? Or the names of every foreign business with which the Trump Organization has a financial relationship, especially in countries where America has sensitive foreign policy interests, like China, India, Russia, Turkey or Saudi Arabia?
The reasoning sounds like reciprocity, but the argument may not get no more traction now than it did during the presidential campaign. A Pew research study in January 2017 showed that 60% of those surveyed believed Trump "has responsibility" to release his returns. Although some were adamant about the release at the time, the Wall Street Journal, for example, reported that the returns wouldn't tell us much anyway.
Discussion:
- What are the advantages and downsides of President Trump revealing his tax returns?
- Read the entire opinion piece. What other arguments do the authors make?
- Do you agree with their reasoning? Why or why not?
- How would you describe the tone? Does the approach help or hurt the argument?
Penn Removes Several Recognitions of Steve Wynn
For the first time in more than 100 years, the University of Pennsylvania has revoked an honorary degree. Following accusations of sexual misconduct against Steve Wynn, the trustees announced the revocation in addition to plans for removing Wynn's name from "Wynn Commons" and from a scholarship fund.
The message, sent by email and posted on the school's website, explained the decision and announced that an honorary degree for Bill Cosby also will be revoked. University leaders were careful to describe their decision process as well as the delay in revoking Cosby's degree. This is a good example of anticipating and addressing potential criticism.
Judging by comments on Twitter, reactions to the university's decision to take a stand seem to be neutral or positive.
Discussion:
- Did UPenn make the right decision? Why or why not?
- Analyze the message. What principles of business are followed, and how can the message be improved? Consider the audience analysis, organization, tone, and so on.
- How is this an example of courage? What risks does the university face?
Controversy About Apple's "What's a Computer?" Ad
Apple's upbeat "What's a Computer?" commercial isn't winning a lot of fans. The long version on YouTube shows a child using an iPad to video chat with a friend, send a picture, type a paper, take a picture, pay for food, draw, and read a comic book. When asked by a woman we assume is the mother, "What you doing on your computer?," the child responds, "What's a computer?"
Cute? Many people think not. According to a Business Insider article, some find the ad "infuriating."
Discussion:
- What did Apple hope to accomplish with this ad? To what extent did the company achieve its purpose?
- We might say this is a lesson in humility for Apple. How do you see it?
- Why do you think people are so angry about it?