Comments on this post are closed.
Looks like MediaCorp has apologized for their CNA Marcomms' earthquake email. (See ST report)
Mr Edwin Koh, Senior Vice-President, Marketing & Sales Planning, MediaCorp said:
"We apologize unreservedly if we had been seen to be insensitive to the gravity of the situation. The staff concerned has been counseled to be more circumspect; we hope the public will be forgiving and we can focus our attention and efforts on the affected victims of this most unfortunate tragedy."
How do you consider it an "unreserved" apology if there is an "if" after that? And what does the SVP mean "IF we had been SEEN to be insensitive"? So does that mean, we apologize if you think we've been insensitive but if you don't think we've been insensitive, we don't apologize?
And why was the staff concerned counseled for this? Doesn't the buck stop with the head of Marketing?
And what is up with last bit? Does it mean if we don't forgive them, we are getting in the way of them focusing on the tragedy? Is a "Let's move on"?
For once, I'd like to see a straightforward apology, something like this:
"We apologize unreservedly for being insensitive to the gravity of the situation. We hope the public will forgive us. We are sorry, we screwed up."
But of course, that would be asking too much.
I leave you with a comment from Yama, a reader from Japan:
"I have read this mail twice.Firstly I have read as an outsider. I found it's distasteful.
Secondly, as a Japanese, that's who I am, it hurt me badly.
Lucky that not many of us staying here read the Straits Times as I know from the fact. We don't need extra pain like this at this moment for sure.
I would like to thank your Government for sending your rescue team.
And thank you for being compassionate toward us.
All those who make use of the disaster, it is fine to do so.It's no problem if you think what is wrong with making money out of it (though it is really shameless thought).
But please do it behind us.
We are really trying to stand up again, please do not try to kick from our back."
