APR Communication & Stakeholder Engagement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which stakeholder mapping approach categorizes audiences by their level of power and interest in an organization?
- SWOT matrix
- Power-Interest grid (Correct answer)
- RACE model
- Shannon-Weaver model
Correct answer: Power-Interest grid
The Power-Interest grid helps PR professionals prioritize stakeholder engagement based on how much power and interest each group has.
Question 2: A company faces a hostile community group opposing a new facility. The BEST initial stakeholder engagement strategy is to:
- Issue a press release defending the project
- Identify community leaders and request private dialogue (Correct answer)
- Ignore the opposition and focus on supportive audiences
- Launch a social media campaign to build public support
Correct answer: Identify community leaders and request private dialogue
Identifying and engaging community leaders in private dialogue establishes trust and opens channels for addressing concerns before opposition escalates.
Question 3: The 'two-way symmetrical' model of public relations, as described by Grunig and Hunt, is characterized by:
- Sending persuasive messages to change public opinion
- Using research to manipulate public attitudes
- Balanced dialogue where both organization and publics can change (Correct answer)
- One-directional information dissemination
Correct answer: Balanced dialogue where both organization and publics can change
Two-way symmetrical PR involves mutual understanding and adaptation, where both the organization and its publics may modify their positions.
Question 4: When drafting a communication plan for a merger announcement, which audience should typically receive information FIRST?
- General public via press release
- Social media followers
- Employees and internal stakeholders (Correct answer)
- Industry analysts and journalists
Correct answer: Employees and internal stakeholders
Employees should be informed first to prevent rumors, maintain morale, and ensure they can answer questions from external audiences accurately.
Question 5: Which communication channel is MOST appropriate for conveying complex, technical information to a specialized professional audience?
- Twitter/X posts
- White papers or technical reports (Correct answer)
- Television commercials
- Infographics on Instagram
Correct answer: White papers or technical reports
White papers and technical reports provide the depth, credibility, and detail needed for professional audiences evaluating complex information.
Question 6: A PR professional uses 'framing' in communications. What does this primarily involve?
- Designing visual layouts for press materials
- Selecting which aspects of an issue to emphasize to shape perception (Correct answer)
- Creating a timeline for a campaign
- Choosing the correct legal disclaimers
Correct answer: Selecting which aspects of an issue to emphasize to shape perception
Framing involves selecting and emphasizing certain aspects of an issue to promote a particular interpretation or perspective among audiences.
Question 7: A nonprofit organization wants to engage millennials effectively. Research shows this demographic prefers:
- Direct mail and printed newsletters
- Formal press conferences
- Authentic storytelling and participatory digital experiences (Correct answer)
- Long-form white papers
Correct answer: Authentic storytelling and participatory digital experiences
Millennials respond strongly to authentic narratives, peer sharing, and interactive digital content that invites participation rather than passive consumption.
APR Communication & Stakeholder Engagement 2
Which stakeholder mapping approach categorizes audiences by their level of power and interest in an organization?