B2-20 / CEFR B2 / EPISODE 20

Crisis Communication

Explaining verified facts and a delayed response

SceneFrank's lab has announced a leak of participant email addresses. He meets the head of communications to prepare a follow-up statement.

Frank reviewing a statement in a meeting room. — Select the illustration to view it at full size in a new tab.

Narrator

Frank's lab has announced a leak of participant email addresses. He meets the head of communications to prepare a follow-up statement.

フランクの研究室は、参加者のメールアドレスが漏洩したことを発表した。フランクは、追加説明を準備するために広報責任者と打ち合わせをしている。

Head01

How are the researchers taking it?

研究者たちの受け止めはどうですか？

Frank02

Not well. Several weren't told before the announcement. Two found out on social media over breakfast — from strangers.

よくありません。数人は、発表の前に知らされていませんでした。2人は朝食中にSNSで知りました——赤の他人から。

Head03

Has IT confirmed that only email addresses were exposed?

漏れたのはメールアドレスだけだと、IT部門で確認できましたか？

Frank04

Yes. No health data or passwords. IT has also blocked outside access to the folder.

はい。健康データやパスワードは含まれていません。IT部門は、そのフォルダへの外部からのアクセスも遮断しました。

Head05

Then our first announcement was accurate.

では、最初の発表の内容は正確だったのですね。

Frank06

Yes. But two months ago, a researcher reported that the folder could be opened without logging in. IT ticket 4471.

はい。ただ、2か月前に、ある研究者がログインせずにそのフォルダを開けると報告していました。IT部門への報告チケット4471です。

Head07

Are you saying this was preventable?

これは防げたはずだ、と言っているのですか？

Frank08

The ticket shows her warning, but no reply. I can't prove that acting on her warning would have prevented this leak.

チケットに彼女の警告は残っていますが、返答の記録がありません。警告に対応していれば今回の漏洩を防げたかどうかまでは、証明できません。

Head09

If we mention that unanswered warning, we invite criticism.

返答していない警告のことまで公表すれば、批判を招きますよ。

Frank10

Hiding it invites more. If a reporter finds ticket 4471, that's another story.

隠せば、もっと批判を招きます。記者がチケット4471を見つけたら、記事がもう1本増えます。

Head11

Then we'll acknowledge the unanswered report. I'll ask IT to assign someone to each report and track it until the problem is fixed.

では、報告に返答していなかったことを認めましょう。IT部門には、報告ごとに担当者を決め、解決まで対応状況を確認するよう依頼します。

Frank12

Please thank the researcher in the statement. And this time, tell our staff before the public hears it.

追加説明には、報告してくれた研究者への感謝を入れてください。それと今回は、公表する前に職員へ伝えてください。

Head13

I'll reply to ticket 4471 myself. Today — not in another two months.

4471への返事は私が書きます。今日中に——今度は2か月も待たせずに。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“Ticket 4471”

Here a ticket is a numbered record of a problem or request submitted to IT or another support desk. A number such as Ticket 4471 lets staff track progress and replies. Common phrases include file a ticket, reply to a ticket, and close a ticket. Universities and other organizations also use the term beyond IT. The issue here is that a researcher reported two months earlier that a folder could be opened without logging in, but no reply was recorded.

“that's another story”

That's another story. usually means a separate matter. Here story also means a news article: a reporter finding ticket 4471 would have another story to publish. Frank believes hiding the unanswered warning would intensify the criticism.

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STORY English with optional Japanese translations

Words & context

“Ticket 4471”

“that's another story”