Mass Comm Bachelor of Communication Bachelor of Communication: Public Relations Strategies 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes 'greenwashing' in a PR context?
- Campaigns promoting genuine environmental sustainability
- Misleading communications that exaggerate environmental benefits (Correct answer)
- Using green color schemes in brand materials
- Partnering with environmental nonprofits
Correct answer: Misleading communications that exaggerate environmental benefits
Greenwashing refers to deceptive PR or marketing that overstates or fabricates a company's environmental responsibility, damaging trust when exposed.
Question 2: A PR professional advising a CEO before a media interview typically emphasizes which technique to stay on message?
- Deflection and redirection
- Bridging statements (Correct answer)
- Off-the-record disclosures
- Stonewalling
Correct answer: Bridging statements
Bridging statements (e.g., 'That's a good point, and what's most important to understand is…') allow spokespeople to acknowledge questions and redirect to key messages.
Question 3: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) communications are most effective when they:
- Focus exclusively on profit-driven outcomes
- Align with core business values and demonstrate measurable impact (Correct answer)
- Are announced only during crises to improve perception
- Avoid media coverage to appear modest
Correct answer: Align with core business values and demonstrate measurable impact
CSR communications resonate when they reflect genuine organizational values and provide evidence of real-world impact rather than appearing opportunistic.
Question 4: The RACE model in public relations stands for:
- Research, Action, Communication, Evaluation (Correct answer)
- Reach, Audience, Content, Engagement
- Reputation, Awareness, Crisis, Ethics
- Research, Awareness, Coordination, Execution
Correct answer: Research, Action, Communication, Evaluation
RACE (Research, Action planning, Communication, Evaluation) is a foundational PR planning framework guiding campaign development from diagnosis to measurement.
Question 5: Social media listening tools in PR are primarily used to:
- Schedule posts across platforms automatically
- Monitor brand mentions, sentiment, and emerging conversations (Correct answer)
- Create and edit visual content for campaigns
- Manage employee internal communications
Correct answer: Monitor brand mentions, sentiment, and emerging conversations
Social listening tools track real-time mentions, hashtags, and sentiment to help PR teams identify issues, opportunities, and shifts in public perception.
Question 6: Which ethical framework most directly underpins the concept of PR practitioners serving as 'ethical counselors' within organizations?
- Utilitarianism
- Deontology
- Social responsibility theory (Correct answer)
- Libertarian theory
Correct answer: Social responsibility theory
Social responsibility theory holds that PR professionals have an obligation to both their clients and society, positioning them as ethical advisors who balance organizational and public interests.
Question 7: A government agency uses PR to build public compliance with a new public health policy. This type of PR is classified as:
- Corporate PR
- Consumer PR
- Public affairs and government relations (Correct answer)
- Internal communications
Correct answer: Public affairs and government relations
Public affairs and government relations PR focuses on managing relationships between organizations and government entities, including public policy communication.
Mass Comm Bachelor of Communication Bachelor of Communication: Public Relations Strategies 3
Which of the following best describes 'greenwashing' in a PR context?