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"The Barry Melrose Incident
or. what is he saying?" >
The best way to approach this assignment is via the mindset of a
communication consultant.
This also means you will have to look BELOW the surface in order to analyze
& apply course concepts.
Extra credit points
► 3 SPECIFIC course/text concepts [ OTHER THAN STEREOTYPING ] that are operating in this scenario - either within Melrose's message (his statements & behaviors) or within the feedback (reactions & behaviors) by Newark city officials and by the public in general.
► 2 SPECIFIC recommendations you
would make to Barry Melrose on how to manage the
conflict situation that has been created.
► Refer to (and cite from) relevant material in the text (e.g. Conflict & Conflict Management, Communication Rich/Lean, Perception, Diversity-Culture, Verbal Communication (Language), high/low Context, IPT, etc. etc.).
Don't always go for the obvious.
THE SCENARIO---
You may recognize some similarity to the situation with Don Imus but try not to be distracted by the speaker's protestations of "not meaning anything by it". As your studies this semester have reinforced, it is the IMPACT of a message that has the communication effect-- not its INTENTION. You also are aware that even stereotypical, humorous statements originate with an element of truth and generally represent the speaker's actual, personal "standpoint".
orig. = 11/14/07 / updated 3/19/08