Bcom/275 Persuasive Communication

Persuasive Communication BCOM/275

I read this amazing story about 33 miners who were trapped nearly a half mile below the surface of the Earth for more than two months. I remember the way I felt at first, my initial reaction. I knew it would be just a matter of days before they would say that the miners were dead. I made this assumption, not because I was heartless, but because I hated to think about it and really didn't expect they would live long. What really stands out for me about this story is the overwhelming hope for my fellow man that I felt when I heard that they had communicated with the rescuers and that they were alive. Looking back, I think about the ways those terrible months must have affected the families, and even the other employees of that company. I try to imagine what methods I would use to maintain constant and effective communications with the loved ones, as well as the company's employees.

There are a few considerations that need to be made regarding the different roles and people in the audience that awaited word for those long weeks and months. There were the logistical purposes of communications, which included rescue teams and efforts being made. From the custom escape pod that was built to bring up the miners, to the half mile of drilling tools that were used, everything had to be coordinated, communicated, and put into action. To maximize the safety of the miners while minimizing the time it took to do so, communication would have to be concise and well-coordinated between the round-the-clock rescue teams.

Although the rescue teams were unable to communicate with the trapped miners for a long time, they were able to communicate with the miners families. Because there was no way of knowing the disposition of the miners, the details that the teams could give were few. What they could not immediately give in the way of details, they gave in compassion and effort. I am certain that for many weeks, as the rescuers dug and drilled, and prayed, cried, and hoped to reach the miners, the greatest communication they provided for the families was hope. Never give up hope.

Given the mean estate that the miners were in, their families were not just in danger of losing their husbands, brothers, fathers, or sons, but losing their only source of income as well. Those with children likely grew concerned that not only were those children possibly orphaned by their fathers, but left with no way to provide for the family once they were gone. The welfare of the family throughout this potentially tragic loss could devastate them even further. These families would need communication in the form of assurance that they would be taken care. They needed to know what their options were, and that the company that these men worked for would be there to help what's left of the family onto its feet again.

Naturally, the employees of the mining company, those not directly affected by the mining disaster, would need information as well. The company stood to be in a lot of trouble if it was found to be their negligence that failed to prevent the tragic events. Employees would want,