Abstract:
This case tells the story of the decision of the Carter administration to relocate 710 families from the area in and around an abandoned canal that had been used as a dumping ground for toxic wastes in the 1940s and 1950s. It focuses on the period between May 1, 1980, when the EPA received a preliminary report about possible chromosomal damage to residents in the area, and May 20, 1980, when the decision was made to relocate the families, reversing a long-standing policy of the administration.
Learning Objective:
The case emphasizes the role of the press in the policymaking process. It can be used to discuss a number of points: first, on major policy decisions, the press will inevitably play some role in the process just by virtue of being there and doing its job. Therefore, thinking about the press consequences ought to be part of the policy planning process. Second, the media can have a variety of definable and predictable impacts on, and roles in, policymaking. Among those illustrated here are: officials using the press as a more effective means of communication with each other than telephone calls or meetings; leaks to the press affecting the decision-making process more than they affect the policy outcome; television coverage turning a regional story into a national story; and intense press coverage shrinking the amount of time officials feel they can take to make a policy decision. Third, the case also raises issues of dealing with the press in a crisis: e.g., how to handle a breaking news story effectively; and what can be done in advance to make dealing with the press easier and more successful in times of stress.
