Think they’re trying to downplay this one? NASA has finally decided to release its controversial study on airline safety — on New Year’s Eve.
Earlier this year, NASA was criticized for withholding key parts of a pilot survey requested by a news organization under the Freedom of Information Act. One of the reasons it cited was that the report could affected “airline profitability.”
Under pressure, the agency did an about-face and agreed to release the data.
But what it did next could come right out of a PR textbook, under “How to Manipulate the Media.”
It waited until the media furor died down. Then it notified reporters on Friday afternoon — the Friday before New Year’s Eve — of a media teleconference the following Monday in which it would discuss the findings. The data will also be posted on the agency’s site at the start of the press conference.
Nice work, NASA.
Most beat reporters have gone home for the weekend. NASA is apparently betting it’s the second-string reporters, interns and the b-list bloggers who will be around on Monday afternoon to dial in to their teleconference.
And they’re probably right.
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A side thought- why is NASA publishing this? Are they now yet another government agency handling airline travel?