Blog #4- Ray Rice Case Study

Video 
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/56025423#56025423

Colleen R. Brown

CM-502

Doctor Lori Bindig

CM-502

November 25^th 2014

Blog#4-Ray Rice Case Study                                                             Word Count -431

Based on the course readings, I think the Ravens and the NFL responded well to the Ray Rice crisis because they immediately took action rather than allowing the situation to harm their brands image.  According to our course reading by Bhargava, one could become an accidental spokesperson for their company just by being an employee. He says that as an employee, what the employee does can become a reflection of the employer even though it has been clearly stated that you may not be the official spoke person. (p.60 Bhargava- Spokesperson)

In the press conference on slide 8 Ray rice’s body language says that he is clearly uncomfortable, but want to make a good impression to everyone in the media and viewers alike. He placed a lot of thought into the words that he chose to use in an effort abstain from further damaging his image. Throughout the press conference he was trying to keep his composure, but you could tell that at some points he was emotional. He seemed to be sincerely apologetic, but trying to do damage control as well.

Janay Rice seemed to be very emotional. I think she was embarrassed by the whole situation and just wants to get passed this time in their lives.  Her body language said that she just wished this never happened. Her word choice showed that she has given the incident much thought and wanted to assure the media and the viewers that their relationship was getting better and they are working out the problems that caused Ray to lash out in the elevator.  She was very emotional.

I think initially the Ravens and the NFL were going to try and cover up what Ray was accused of doing because he was such a valuable player in the league, but when the video was released it was hard for them to actually do that. I think that Twitter blast was an attempt to have the media attack Janay to find out exactly what her role was to take some of the spot light off of Ray Rice. Their tactics didn’t work though. I believe that if that video wasn’t released Ray would still play for the Ravens today.

I think the strengths of the Jersey exchange was that an effort was made to right a domestic violence situation, but the weakness was that it was for only one day that they had this event.

I think Goodell’s resignation would be helpful in managing this crisis because with the statistics show on slide 17 he has not been very effective in his position.