BP vs. Exxon - a tale of two crises

As BP's chief exec Tony Hayward speaks to the BBC to make it clear that the huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is "not our accident but is our responsibility to deal with the leak and clean up the oil" it is interesting to contrast this to the response of Exxon to the Exxon Valdex disaster 21 years ago - often called the worst response to a crisis in PR history. Their chief exec at the time refused to acknowledge responsibility and did not go to the site of the accident. Note as T0ny Hayward (BP)talks slowly, without notes, and clearly about collaboration, innovation and the scale of the response - citing the coastguard and other US authorities as credible sources to back up his claims. Great press training and a useful case study for crisis management.