25 Years Later
Newsletter #139
This Week
What Being in a D.C. Newsroom Was Like On 9/11
The Story of Rick Rescorla
Spotted
Before We Go…
1. 25 Years After 9/11: What I Remember, What We Learned
Twenty-five years ago on Friday, I was asleep in my apartment on Capitol Hill while teams of terrorists were in the air overtaking four commercial airplanes. The United States was under attack, but most of us would not know that for sure until the second plane struck the World Trade Center.
At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower. At first, it seemed possible it was a horrific aviation accident. Seventeen minutes later, at 9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 flew into the South Tower.
Between those two crashes, my boyfriend, Rob, called. “Turn on the TV. There’s been a plane accident in New York City.”
I turned on NBC and started listening to Katie Couric and Matt Lauer on the Today show. Then, as millions of Americans watched, the second plane came into the frame.
I threw on clothes, ran to my car, and headed to work. I was a producer for NBC’s Meet the Press with Tim Russert. Days off only lasted until there was major news, and it was immediately clear that this would be unlike anything we had ever covered, and the attack wasn’t over
2. From TIME Magazine: A Survival Guide to Catastrophe
This week, we’re sharing a TIME Magazine story highlighting leadership and communication in times of crisis. The full story is worth a read, but we’ve linked directly to the section on Rick Rescorla.
Rick Rescorla, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter’s head of security at the World Trade Center, understood that ordinary people could accomplish extraordinary things with the right leadership and preparation. After predicting the potential for a terrorist attack at the Trade Center, Rescorla implemented frequent, sometimes unpopular fire drills and trained employees to know exactly how to respond in an emergency. On Sept. 11, 2001, that preparation saved lives. As the towers came under attack, Rescorla calmly directed thousands of employees down the stairwells, even returning to help others after most had escaped. Of the nearly 2,700 Morgan Stanley employees in the towers, only 13 were lost, including Rescorla and four members of his security team. His story is a powerful reminder that effective leadership means preparing people to act before a crisis ever happens.
3. Spotted
We haven’t forgotten that today is Labor Day. Here’s a brief article on the holiday from Newsweek, and how it differs from Memorial Day. Distinguishing between the two holidays and how they are honored or celebrated is important for those creating content for your organization.
4. Before We Go…
From Inc.: Charli XCX thinks ‘anti-marketing’ is the future. These 6 brands are already doing it
It’s no secret: People are tired of being marketed to. Will the solve be hyper-focusing on a micro-audience rather than trying to reach the masses?
From The New York Times: How our reporters trace dark money in politics
Here’s a look behind the journalistic curtain. How do reporters “follow the money?” Two New York Times reporters share their research process.
From CNBC: How Meta will pull off massive changes to its social media apps
Meta agreed to settle with 29 states in a federal case centered on teen social media addiction. In addition to shelling out $17 billion dollars, the app promised to build in protections for teens including a two-hour default limit for time spent on its app, blocking the apps between midnight and 6 a.m., and muting notifications during school hours. Here’s how they plan to make the sweeping changes.