Public Rhetoric and Public Safety at the Chicago Transit Authority

Journal of Business and Technical Communication Jul 2002

Public Rhetoric and Public Safety at the Chicago Transit Authority

David Coogan Illinois Institute of Technology

Abstract

This article compares three rhetorical approaches to accident analysis: materialist, classical, and constructivist. The focal points for comparison are the two accident reports issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)—reports that attempted (and failed) to persuade the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to change a problematic policy about rail communication alongside its technology for rail communication. The central question the article asks is, How can rhetorical theory help explain the CTA”s inaction, which ultimately led to property damage, injury, and death? Classical and constructivist approaches, emphasizing rational deliberation between equals, on one hand, and the social construction of technical knowledge between professionals, on the other, offer plausible explanations for what went wrong. But only the materialist approach appears capable of discerning the ideological nature of the CTA”s resistance to the NTSB”s recommendations.

Journal: Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published: 2002-07-01
DOI: 10.1177/1050651902016003002
Open Access: Closed
Topics: rhetorical theory public rhetoric

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (3)

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