Exxon and the Valdez accident: A failure in crisis communication

The March 24, 1989 grounding of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker on Alaska's Prince William Sound caused severe damage to both the local environment and Exxon's corporate image. This essay examines the strategies employed by Exxon while attempting to manage the Valdez crisis. The essay argues that Exxon's crisis communication efforts failed because of a slow initial response, and an ineffective use of burden sharing and scapegoating strategies.