Ethics & Legal Considerations in Communication Flashcards

A PR professional learns that a company spokesperson misspoke during a press conference. What is the most ethical course of action?

Answer: Issue a correction or clarification promptly

Ethical communication requires promptly correcting misinformation to maintain credibility and public trust.

Which federal law governs the disclosure requirements for political advertising and sponsored communications?

Answer: The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

The BCRA (McCain-Feingold Act) mandates disclosure of funding sources for political advertisements and campaign communications.

A communicator uses a competitor's trademarked slogan in a comparative advertisement. This practice is generally:

Answer: Permissible if the comparison is truthful and non-misleading

Nominative fair use allows reference to a competitor's trademark in truthful comparative advertising without infringement.

When a public relations professional simultaneously represents two clients with competing interests, this situation is known as:

Answer: A conflict of interest

Representing clients with opposing interests creates a conflict of interest that must be disclosed and resolved to maintain ethical standards.

The legal concept of 'right of publicity' protects an individual's:

Answer: Right to control commercial use of their name, image, or likeness

The right of publicity gives individuals control over how their identity is used for commercial purposes without consent.

A communications manager discovers that internal company data used in a public report was altered by a supervisor. The ethical response is to:

Answer: Report the discrepancy through appropriate channels and refuse to distribute the report

Distributing knowingly falsified data violates ethical and potentially legal obligations, requiring the communicator to escalate the issue.

Under the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines, when must social media influencers disclose a material connection to a brand?

Answer: Always, whenever a material connection exists, regardless of the platform

The FTC requires clear and conspicuous disclosure of any material connection—including free products, payment, or relationships—on all platforms.