Posted on Nov 6, 2023
Modern PR tactics were born of tragic Jersey Shore train crash
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This is the story of a local train crash, and how its aftermath changed the way companies communicate with the public.
On Oct. 28, 1906, a three-car train was about to finish its journey from Camden to Atlantic City when it approached a drawbridge spanning a small waterway.
As its wheels hit the bridge, something went terribly wrong.
The first two cars of the train careened into the water. Victims were, in the words of the Atlantic City Press, “entombed in cars” with no method of escape, and 53 of the 87 passengers died.
On Oct. 28, 1906, a three-car train was about to finish its journey from Camden to Atlantic City when it approached a drawbridge spanning a small waterway.
As its wheels hit the bridge, something went terribly wrong.
The first two cars of the train careened into the water. Victims were, in the words of the Atlantic City Press, “entombed in cars” with no method of escape, and 53 of the 87 passengers died.
Modern PR tactics were born of tragic Jersey Shore train crash
Posted from billypenn.com
American History
Atlantic City
Camden
Media
Newspapers
Posted 6 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The first two cars of the train careened into the water. Victims were, in the words of the Atlantic City Press, “entombed in cars” with no method of escape, and 53 of the 87 passengers died.
The ill-fated train was operated by the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad, a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
The company had recently hired a public relations consultant named Ivy Lee.
And Lee convinced the rail giant to do something unusual.
Lee told the Pennsylvania Railroad that it should write its own version of what happened and volunteer that information to the press. It was an unusual approach. But Lee thought his client should get out in front of the story.
Two days after the tragedy, the New York Times printed Lee’s statement."...
..."The first two cars of the train careened into the water. Victims were, in the words of the Atlantic City Press, “entombed in cars” with no method of escape, and 53 of the 87 passengers died.
The ill-fated train was operated by the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad, a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
The company had recently hired a public relations consultant named Ivy Lee.
And Lee convinced the rail giant to do something unusual.
Lee told the Pennsylvania Railroad that it should write its own version of what happened and volunteer that information to the press. It was an unusual approach. But Lee thought his client should get out in front of the story.
Two days after the tragedy, the New York Times printed Lee’s statement."...
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