Not Quite 30-Love

#GodSaveMarine, #LinzCrisis

#GodSaveMarine, #LinzCrisis

Entering the press room after Brenda – she had around a five-minute head start while I panicked looking for evidence of her planting on @NQ30Love – I wondered what or whom she had been torturing in the interim. Regardless, the place was running like a well-oiled machine. Marine was conversing with multiple journalists in at least four languages – simultaneously it seemed. She had print outs of the statement from the WTA and the place was a hive of activity. Something had shifted. The journalists all seemed satisfied. Satisfied that they were ahead of the story, instead of playing catch-up with hashtags. Marine had them eating out of her hands. Nobody commented that it was also her second day on the job.

Brenda had a look on her face. The smile had gone. She saw Marine for what she was – more of a threat to her job than I would ever be. Jane Townsend may be regretting hiring me, but she certainly wouldn’t be with Marine.

Marine waved us over. ‘I’ve put together a brief summary of the response on site to the statement. Please read it, Brenda. I’m happy if you want it to come from you.’ Smart, smart, smart, why didn’t I…?

Brenda read the statement, with me over her shoulder. Marine had said the mood in the stadium during and after the silence was solemn. She then listed the key media on site and their reaction to the statement. Overall the media reaction was positive. They felt the statement showed a mature and considered response to the crisis. The discussion surrounding intent seemed to have quieted. We may just survive this after all.

‘I think we should include what’s being said online,’ said Brenda.

‘I considered that,’ said Marine. ‘But Jane and the team are no doubt on top of that. What they can’t see is what’s happening here.’

Brenda looked back at the screen, attempting to keep the expression on her face as neutral as possible – she was failing miserably.

‘Do you want to send this or should I?’ questioned Marine.

‘I’ll send it. Email it to me now,’ barked Brenda.

‘It is done,’ said Marine, hitting send.

Brenda returned to her seat and her computer. I sat at my desk and sneaked a small smile at Marine; she winked back. Journalists were frantically posting stories, but what was the mood online?

An initial search found a bit of a mixed bag in terms of reaction. The haters were still out there, but a couple of positive hashtags were starting to trend. There was #WTACares, #UlliFischerRules and #WTASilenceSpeaksVolumes. But there was also #WTAStuntFailV2 – although it wasn’t being shared as quickly.

At least fifty versions of Ulli’s speech were on YouTube, in addition to the official one on the WTA channel. Over twenty million hits already – with about seventy percent thumbs up and only fifteen percent thumbs down. A pretty massive turnaround – maybe we could get on with the job of promoting tennis matches?

Looking at the scoreboard, Zoe Lemonjian had won the first set and was already a break up in the second. My concentration broken by the sound of Brenda’s laptop slamming shut with such force it nearly jumped off the table. Marine and I looked at her.

‘I have a meeting. Try not to f**k anything up while I’m gone.’ She was looking at both of us. Then she practically jogged from the room.

‘Brenda told me she seeded the story about our post being deliberate. Of course, she knows I can’t prove it.’ I said.

Marine turned her face towards me, she didn’t look surprised by my bombshell. She pointed to an email from Jane. Brenda had sent Marine’s email, not copying us, but Jane had responded to the three of us:

**

Hello Brenda,

Thank you for this well-crafted analysis of the situation on site. Please continue the good work and stay on message. I will update the team shortly on the global response.

Regards,

Jane

**

Marine then pointed to the version of her report that Brenda had sent; Jane had left it in the email chain. Almost unchanged from the original by Marine, except for the copious addition of the word ‘I’. ‘I spoke to each journalist individually…’

‘It will be interesting to see what her next move is,’ said Marine, mimicking the movement of a chess piece on top of her closed laptop. ‘Nobody is in check yet.’