Deck 3: Ethics and Law in Public Relations

Question 1

A PR practitioner who applies utilitarianism would do which of the following when making a decision?

A)rely on established organizational policies
B)consider the possible results of various strategies
C)follow moral principles equally and objectively
D)depend on previous professional experiences

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What is the goal of the ethical framework developed by Martin and Wright?

A)identifying the weaknesses of situation and normative ethics
B)promoting the benefits of using agent-based ethics in business
C)explaining how to apply teleological ethics in a corporate setting
D)bridging the gap between the three types of normative ethics

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Shondra,a PR professional,considers herself an absolutist.When making ethical decisions,which of the following questions is most relevant to Shondra?

A)What is the company policy?
B)What are the possible benefits?
C)What is the most compassionate choice?
D)What option would lead to the greatest good?

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is the study of right and wrong?

A)sociology
B)ethics
C)psychology
D)logic

Question 5

Which ethics theory asserts that the best action leads to the greatest good for the greatest number of people?

A)deontological ethics
B)absolutism
C)utilitarianism
D)virtue ethics

Question 6

According to PR ethics scholar Shannon Bowen,which two types of ethics are most relevant to PR practitioners?

A)situational ethics and absolutism
B)utilitarianism and absolutism
C)agent-based ethics and utilitarianism
D)virtue ethics and situational ethics

Question 7

What is the primary reason that the study of ethics is relevant to PR practitioners?

A)PR professionals hold high-level positions in many firms.
B)PR relies on both one-way and two-way communication.
C)PR has the power to shape attitudes and promote behaviors.
D)PR tactics are used by both businesses and governments.

Question 8

A code of ethics for the PR profession serves which of the following functions?

A)providing standards for decision making
B)identifying appropriate publicity tools
C)clarifying the role of communications
D)establishing measures of success

Question 9

Which of the following questions is most relevant to the study of ethics?

A)How will stakeholders be identified?
B)What lessons have individuals learned?
C)What are the logical arguments to apply?
D)How should individuals make decisions?

Question 10

In the ethical framework developed by Martin and Wright,which step occurs immediately after defining an issue?

A)considering ethical approaches
B)proposing a course of action
C)evaluating various options
D)identifying stakeholders

Question 11

According to the PRSA code of conduct,what is the benefit of avoiding conflicts of interest?

A)protecting confidential information
B)building trust with clients and publics
C)upholding organizational rules and policies
D)facilitating corporate social responsibility

Question 12

The phrase "PR spin" implies that PR communication is intended for which purpose?

A)manipulating the public
B)implementing a strategy
C)developing relationships
D)advertising a product

Question 13

According to the PRSA code of conduct,which of the following contributes to informed decision making in democracies?

A)avoiding the perception of conflicts of interest
B)promoting competition among businesses
C)protecting the free flow of accurate information
D)honoring obligations to clients and publics

Question 14

Which organization's code of ethics serves as a model for U.S.firms and PR professionals?

A)Page Society
B)IABC
C)CPRS
D)PRSA

Question 15

Which of the following is asserted by the PRSA Professional Values Statement?

A)provide subjective counsel to clients
B)advance personal and corporate interests
C)serve the public by communicating honestly
D)foster the right to compete for public trust

Question 16

Which theory of ethics emphasizes the moral character of the individual?

A)agent-based
B)absolutism
C)utilitarianism
D)situational

Question 17

The PR firm Burson-Marsteller specializes in which of the following?

A)product promotion
B)political campaigns
C)digital media management
D)reputation management

Question 18

A PR practitioner who adheres to agent-based ethics will base ethical decisions on which of the following?

A)potential outcomes
B)established rules
C)universal laws
D)compassion

Question 19

Which ethical theory asserts that ethical decisions should be based on objective rules?

A)teleological ethics
B)absolutism
C)utilitarianism
D)virtue ethics

Question 20

Traditionally,PR practitioners rely on which of the following to learn about ethics?

A)normative ethics
B)virtue ethics
C)situational ethics
D)utilitarian ethics

Question 21

According to Shannon Bowen,ethics requires prioritizing which of the following?

A)should over could
B)need over want
C)could over should
D)want over need

Question 22

Which of the following requires openness and transparency in state governments?

A)copyright laws
B)fair use rules
C)trademark laws
D)sunshine laws

Question 23

According to the Edelman Trust Barometer findings,which organizational action erodes public trust the most?

A)failing to take responsibility for a crisis
B)not revealing all financial information
C)using CSR as a promotional tool
D)engaging in one-way communication

Question 24

Under the Freedom of Information Act,citizens have the right to do which of the following?

A)display information publicly
B)access government records
C)make false statements
D)use copyrighted works

Question 25

Which of the following is considered the best approach for PR professionals during a client crisis?

A)focusing on long-term strategies
B)implementing reactive protocols
C)advocating for honest communication
D)supporting public diplomacy efforts

Question 26

In recent years,which of the following has driven the development of corporate ethics codes?

A)increased globalization
B)decline of mainstream media
C)changes in issues management
D)increased IMC campaigns

Question 27

According to the PRSA Professional Values Statement,which of the following helps PR practitioners to advance the PR profession?

A)developing a strong network
B)fostering a competitive market
C)working in different industries
D)seeking educational opportunities

Question 28

Which of the following involves making a false statement with the intention of harming another person's reputation?

A)defamation
B)appropriation
C)negative publicity
D)intrusion

Question 29

Which of the following is a criticism of utilitarianism?

A)Rules and policies should not apply universally.
B)Individuals cannot accurately predict outcomes.
C)Cultures possess a range of beliefs and morals.
D)Individuals vary in their personal principles.

Question 30

Critics argue that corporate ethics codes promote which of the following?

A)disregarding the agreed upon ethics and laws of a society
B)basing ethical decisions on too many objective principles
C)relying on virtue ethics more heavily than situational ethics
D)shifting ethical responsibility from the individual to the group

Question 31

Which of the following ensures that ethical decisions are consistent across an organization?

A)gathering and analyzing data from inside and outside the organization
B)basing decisions on the organization's ethics and mission statements
C)implementing decisions that uphold societal values and morals
D)considering key publics and stakeholders in decision making

Question 32

During a live TV broadcast,a reporter purposely makes a false,harmful,and shocking statement about a celebrity.Based on this information,the reporter could be found guilty of which of the following?

A)disclosure
B)slander
C)intrusion
D)libel

Question 33

Which of the following is a criticism of agent-based ethics?

A)Codes of ethics are based on society's legal frameworks.
B)Personal decisions cannot be guided by universal laws.
C)Different people have different concepts of virtuous conduct.
D)The best decisions benefit most individuals in a society.

Question 34

What is a common criticism of professional and corporate codes of ethics?

A)They include too many diverse beliefs.
B)They are vague and used inconsistently.
C)They are enforced too harshly.
D)They rely too much on utilitarianism.

Question 35

Which amendment of the U.S.Constitution guarantees free speech?

A)First Amendment
B)Second Amendment
C)Third Amendment
D)Fourth Amendment

Question 36

Which of the following defines libel?

A)information that spreads virally
B)defamation that is spoken
C)news that is not fact-checked
D)defamation that is published

Question 37

Which term refers to the human instinct to behave morally?

A)personal virtue
B)cultural values
C)innate ethics
D)moral impulse

Question 38

Critics of absolutism assert which of the following?

A)Individual ethics cannot be applied to everyone.
B)The results of ethical decisions are unknown.
C)Individual morals vary from culture to culture.
D)Societal laws lead to unfair consequences.

Question 39

Which of the following is recommended by the Public Relations Society of America code of conduct?

A)Protect confidential information.
B)Engage in corporate stewardship.
C)Promote thought leadership.
D)Ensure two-way communication.

Question 40

Which of the following improves the rationality of an ethical decision?

A)analyzing the demographics of stakeholders
B)relying on personal morals and ethics
C)identifying publics that will be affected
D)gathering data from multiple sides

Question 41

Published ethical guidelines for PR focus on corporate,nonprofit,and social movement organizations.

Question 42

The Member Code of Ethics developed by Public Relations Society of America is structured into two sections: professional values and ethical conduct.

Question 43

According to the right of publicity,individuals have the right to control which of the following?

A)commercial use of their identities
B)statements about their history
C)use of their personal ideas
D)release of their private data

Question 44

A customer of Company X posts a defamatory statement on Facebook about the services and policies of Company X.Since the reputation of Company X is significantly harmed by the Facebook post,the company's owners want to file a defamation lawsuit.Based on the law,which statement is true?

A)Only Facebook can be sued.
B)Only the customer can be sued.
C)Neither Facebook nor the customer can be sued.
D)Both Facebook and the customer can be sued.

Question 45

A PR practitioner should refuse to be dishonest unless that honesty is damaging to the organization.

Question 46

An action that is immoral or unethical is also illegal.

Question 47

Publishing photos that are taken in public is not considered an invasion of privacy.

Question 48

Building respect with the public for the PR profession is included in the Public Relations Society of America Member Code of Ethics.

Question 49

Which of the following is a guideline for applying the fair use rule?

A)Email materials to a private distribution list.
B)Cite sources for short and long excerpts.
C)Track content with a spreadsheet.
D)Print copies of copyrighted articles.

Question 50

George Clooney is a paid spokesperson for Nespresso,a coffee and espresso machine.During an interview on a talk show,George mentions that he starts every morning with coffee made in his Nespresso machine.Given this information,which statement about disclosure is true?

A)He must file a disclosure statement with the federal government.
B)He must disclose his credentials as a Nespresso spokesperson.
C)His comments are not in a Nespresso ad,so disclosure is unnecessary.
D)He should disclose that he is a spokesperson for Nespresso.

Question 51

Bloggers who make endorsements for products must disclose any material connections they have with the seller of the product.

Question 52

For Brandon,a PR professional,to be sued for disclosure by a client,which of the following must occur?

A)Brandon collects information about the client.
B)Brandon publishes a statement about the client.
C)Brandon reveals private information about the client.
D)Brandon causes the client to experience mental anguish.

Question 53

A photographer who intentionally disturbs a celebrity as she walks her daughter to school and causes mental anguish to both the mother and child could be found guilty of which of the following?

A)appropriation
B)libel
C)slander
D)intrusion

Question 54

Which law has significant jurisdiction over Internet and online speech?

A)Communications Decency Act
B)Freedom of Information Act
C)Federal Trade Communication Act
D)Copyright Act

Question 55

The three types of normative ethics are teleological,deontological and virtue ethics.

Question 56

The Freedom of Information Act is a law that grants public access to state records.

Question 57

If Bob's decisions are guided by compassion,justice,and honesty,he is applying absolutism ethics.

Question 58

The fair use rule applies to which of the following?

A)copyrighted works
B)trademarks and logos
C)unbranded content
D)social media platforms

Question 59

Which of the following refers to untrue information that is widely publicized?

A)appropriation
B)exposure
C)cyber libel
D)false light

Question 60

Hannah,a blogger,has a popular website called Hannah's Healthy Home.Hannah earns money from companies by reviewing and endorsing their cleaning products.Which of the following does the FTC require Hannah to do?

A)provide links to the cleaning product websites
B)disclose her credentials as a product spokesperson
C)disclose that she is paid for product endorsements
D)post accurate information about her product reviews

Question 61

Describe the recommendations of the PRSA Code Provisions of Conduct regarding disclosure of information and give an example of improper conduct under this provision.

Question 62

Describe what it means to be a leader who transforms not just organizations but the societies that house them.

Question 63

Describe how a PR professional might apply utilitarianism.

Question 64

Briefly describe the challenges of applying PR ethics to Social Movement Organizations (SMOs).

Question 65

What type of speech is not included in the U.S.Constitution's First Amendment?

Question 66

What are the six core values listed in the Public Relations Society of America Professional Values Statement for the professional practice of public relations?

Question 67

Describe the two broad areas of critical responsibility held by the PR practitioner as they provide the strategic link between an organization and key stakeholders.

Question 68

Name and describe five forms of invasion of privacy.

Question 69

Describe the Supreme Court decision known as Citizens United and the resulting ethical implications.