In the Twitterverse, you must expect that words will be repeated out of context. Twitter blew up with the phrase “not impossible” yesterday. Headlines followed suit. The phrase originated from the CDC Director, Dr. Frieden, who was apparently describing the likelihood of more people contracting Ebola. This comes after the Dallas mayor said there’s “zero chance” and the Dallas Independent School District superintendent used the phrase “very low [chance].”
This is a tricky situation, no doubt. We’re dealing with managing a contagious, life-threatening virus and managing the general public’s perception—err, panic levels. The problem is we’re hearing differing threat levels from top officials. The guy we really want to hear from seems to be lost at best. (That’s you, Dr. Frieden)
My prediction is Dr. Frieden was asked, “Is it impossible that there are more cases of Ebola?” And, he truthfully answered, “It’s not impossible.” Then, the public and media had a field day with the phrase.
He should have expected that question. If he was trained and rehearsed properly, he would know the techniques to handle forward-looking statements in a way that sets expectations and portrays confidence.
Regardless of the actual facts, public officials should be attuned to the emotion involved in a situation like this. They need to work to maintain the public’s trust and confidence. Here’s hoping they get it together.
You May Also Like
Many of our clients know that I am an avid needle pointer and am always working on projects – even in meetings. I have found reinforcements! Described as “Google’s Steely Adversary,” Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s commissioner for… more
OK, Hamlet didn’t say that, but the Mayor of Baltimore was caught on camera saying, “We also gave those who wished to destroy space to do that as well.” The next day, she insisted she hadn’t said it:… more
Sacha Baron Cohen is at it again with a show, “Who is America?” on Showtime. His first show aired an “interview” in his persona rightwing redneck character Billy Wayne Ruddick with 2016 presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders. He… more
){kind=link}