Blowout!: Firestone's image restoration campaign

Public Relations Review

Volumn 28, Issue 4, 2002, Pages 379-392

  Blaney, Joseph R ^a   Benoit, William L ^a   Brazeal, LeAnn M ^a  

^a ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0036888154     PISSN: 03638111     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/S0363-8111(02)00163-7     Document Type: Article

References (64)

1. J.R. Healey, Documents imply Firestone knew of tire trouble in 1994, USA Today (October 4, 2000), p. 3B.
2. Tire maker to recall 3.5M more tires, http://www.lasvegassun.com (October 4, 2001).
3. The question of whether Firestone was actually at fault for these deaths is not germane to this paper. Firestone argued that most of the deaths could be attributed to (1) characteristics of the Ford Explorers which many of the victims were driving and (2) improper tire inflation and maintenance. For the purposes of this article, we proceed from the understanding that, fairly or unfairly, Firestone was perceived as at fault in this instance.
4. W.L. Benoit, Accounts Excuses and Apologies: A Theory of Image Restoration Strategies, State University of New York Press, Albany, 1995;
5. W.L. Benoit, Image repair discourse and crisis communication, Public Relations Review 23 (1997), pp. 177-186;
6. W.L. Benoit, Another visit to the theory of image restoration strategies, Communication Quarterly (2000), pp. 40-43.
7. A. Kumar, Deadly combination: Ford, Firestone, & Florida, St. Petersburg Times (May 21, 2002), p. 7A.
8. C.E. Mayer, F. Swoboda, A corporate collision: Ford-Firestone feud accelerated after effort to head it off failed, Washington Post (June 20, 2001), p. E1.
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11. W.L. Benoit, Sears' repair of its auto service image: image restoration discourse in the corporate sector, Communication Studies 46 (1995), pp. 89-105.
12. S.L. Brinson, W.L. Benoit, Dow Corning's image repair strategies in the breast implants crisis, Communication Quarterly 44 (1996), pp. 29-41.
13. W.L. Benoit, A. Czerwinski, A critical analysis of USAir's image repair discourse, Business Communication Quarterly 60 (1997), pp. 38-57.
14. S.L. Brinson, W.L. Benoit, The tarnished star: restoring Texaco's damaged public image, Management Communication Quarterly 12 (1999), pp. 483-510.
15. W.L. Benoit, P. Gullifor, D. Panici, Reagan's discourse on the Iran-Contra affair, Communication Studies 42 (1991), pp. 272-294;
16. W.L. Benoit, J.P. McHale, Kenneth Starr's image repair discourse viewed in 20/20, Communication Quarterly 47 (1999), pp. 265-280;
17. W.L. Benoit, W.T. Wells, An analysis of three image restoration discourses on Whitewater, Journal of Public Advocacy 3 (1998), pp. 21-37;
18. J.R. Blaney, W.L. Benoit, The Clinton Scandals and the Politics of Image Restoration, Praeger, Westport, CT;
19. K.A. Kennedy, W.L. Benoit, The Newt Gingrich book deal controversy: self-defense rhetoric, Southern Communication Journal 63 (1997), pp. 197-216.
20. J.R. Blaney, Restoring the juridical image: apologia for Ex Corde Ecclesiae, Journal of Communication and Religion 24 (2001), pp. 94-109;
21. J.R. Blaney, W.L. Benoit, The persuasive defense of Jesus in the Gospel according to John, Journal of Communication and Religion 20 (1997), pp. 25-30;
22. D.L. Sullivan, Francis Schaeffer's apparent apology in Pollution and the Death of Man, Journal of Communication and Religion 21 (1998), pp. 200-230.
23. W.L. Benoit, Hugh Grant's image restoration discourse: an actor apologizes, Communication Quarterly 45 (1997), pp. 251-267;
24. W.L. Benoit, K.K. Anderson, Blending politics and entertainment: Dan Quayle versus Murphy Brown, Southern Communication Journal 62 (1996), pp. 73-85;
25. W.L. Benoit, R.S. Hanczor, The Tonya Harding controversy: an analysis of image restoration strategies, Communication Quarterly 42 (1994), pp. 416-433.
26. W.L. Benoit, S.L. Brinson, Queen Elizabeth's image repair discourse: insensitive royal or compassionate queen? Public Relations Review 25 (1999), pp. 145-166.
27. B. Smith, House panel lashes out, Chicago Sun-Times (September 22, 2000), p. 8.
28. D. Chapman, The man who told on a tiremaker, Atlanta Journal and Constitution (October 9, 2000), p. 1A.
29. Firestone retiree, The Seattle Times (October 5, 2000), p. A4.
30. Ibid., p. A4.
31. W.L. Benoit, S.L. Brinson, 1994, op. cit.
32. Michelin, Because so much is riding on your tires, USA Today (September 12, 2000), p. 23A.
33. Goodyear, Not everybody had to think about their tires this week, USA Today (May 25, 2001), p. 14A.
34. Firestone detailed tire faults, Columbia Daily Tribune (September 6, 2000), p. 14A.
35. T. Incantalupo, Change at Firestone, Newsday (October 11, 2000), p. A6.
36. Consumers demand new tires, Columbia Daily Tribune (August 10, 2000), p. 8A.
37. Bridgestone recalls tires linked to fatal crashes, Columbia Daily Tribune (August 9, 2000), p. 14A.
38. Bridgestone president defends tires, Columbia Daily Tribune (September 11, 2000), p. 1B.
39. Ibid., p. 1B.
40. Ibid., p. 1B.
41. Ibid., p. 1B.
42. T. Incantalupo, op. cit., p. A6.
43. Bridgestone president, op. cit., p. 1B.
44. T. Incantalupo, Ford-Firestone split: angry tiremaker ends alliance dating to 1906, Newsday (May 22, 2001), p. A07.
45. Making It Right, Print advertisement available at http://www.bridgetone-firestone.com.
46. I b i d.
47. I b i d.
48. Making It Right, Television advertisement available at http://www.bridgestone-firestone.com.
49. Making It Right, Print.
50. Making It Right, Television.
51. M. Andretti, Television advertisement available at http://www.bridgestone-firestone.com.
52. I b i d.
53. M. Andretti, M. Andretti on trust, Television advertisement available at http://www.bridgestone-firestone.com.
54. M. Andretti, M. Andretti on safety, Television advertisement available at http://www.bridgestone-firestone. com.
55. M. Andretti, Television.
56. M. Andretti, M. Andretti on safety.
57. Ford recommended lower pressure, Columbia Daily Tribune (August 21, 2000), p. B1.
58. J.R. Healey, January memo revealed tire flaws, USA Today (September 8, 2000), p. 3B.
59. Ford, Firestone executives trade accusations, Columbia Daily Tribune (September 13, 2000), p. 1A.
60. Roper Center, Newsweek poll, obtained via Lexis-Nexis, October 17, 2001.
61. CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll, available at http://www.pollingreport.com/business.htm.
62. See, e.g., Tyler, liability means never being able to say you're sorry: corporate guilt, legal constraints, and defensiveness in corporate communication, Management Communication Quarterly 11 (1997), pp. 51-73.
63. W.L. Benoit, A. Czerwinski, A critical analysis of USAir's image repair discourse, Business Communication Quarterly 60 (1997), pp. 38-57.
64. CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll, available at http://www.pollingreport.com/business.htm.