The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is now in its 55th day and there is no solution in sight to prevent more oil from polluting more water, beaches and killing more wildlife. At least we are seeing now attempts from BP to control the flow of information by pumping money into every major search engine as well as social networks such as YouTube.
BP Oil Spill Disaster
You might think BP would have better use for its money than trying to repair its public image at a time when many question the future of the company if it can’t come up with an effective solution to stop thousands of gallons of oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico every hour, in addition to the estimated 90 million gallons that have polluted water and coastal areas so far. However, BP had $50 million left over for a TV spot and now it appears that plenty of cash went into a strategy to control the information flow on search engines and YouTube.
Searching for “oil spill” related terms, including “oil leak”, “oil disaster”, “recent oil spill” or even “Gulf of Mexico” will bring up a sponsored BP search result that links to the company’s response site and promises information that shows “how BP is helping.” The company also provides nearly daily updates on its oil collection efforts.
Oil Spill Google Search Result
A BP spokesperson for said that it bought the phrases “to help drive the people most affected by the spill to our site to help them”. BP stressed that people can find contact information, claims processing data and information on how to volunteer on its website.
BP Image: Is this how those beaches look like?
What a selfless effort.
We are sure that the people living on the Gulf Coast just love those images posted by BP, showing pristine beaches and happy animals as well as dedicated individuals discussing whiteboard notes. Of course, BP does not show the actual pollution. You could get the impression that the daily reports of the massive catastrophe are pure media imagination. Now we are also hearing reports that BP employees are preventing journalists from entering critical areas from where they could report about the true situation of the pollution. Kelly Cobiella from CBS complained that she was denied access. AP, Newsweek, the Washington Post as well as the New York Times have criticized BP for similar incidents as well.
Oil under water: Picture not from BP. It's from AP.
The interesting explanation: Areas have been closed as the oil that polluted those areas is BP’s oil. As if journalists would have an interest in stealing slimy oil paste from Louisiana beaches. Sure.
Perhaps it is time for BP to worry about what could in fact repair its public image, without shady tricks: Stop the spill and clean up the mess and suffering it has created. No one really wants to hear excuses anymore and how much money BP donates to help. The public has been patient long enough.
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