UPDATE 2026
Public Relations (PR) - Answers A strategic communication process that builds
mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.
PRSA - Answers Largest PR organization?
Edelman Trust Barometer - Answers Business is seen as competent and ethical
Should leverage its comparative advantage to inform debate and delivered solution on
climate
Business has the highest trust
Press Agentry/Publicity - Answers The goal: to get publicity... at all costs...
It's a type of one-way communication
1800s → The Golden Age of Press Agentry
Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill
Publicity Stunt - Answers Generating positive, media attention
(Ex- McDonalds flipping their M to W for International Women's day)
Public Information Model - Answers This model highlights the needs of others in its
ethical consideration
One-way communication, truth and accuracy
PR moves beyond publicists and promoters
Rise in the use of opinion research to develop strategic plans
Strategies and tactics of become important
Goal to accomplish defined business objectives - not just publicity!
Not using formal research to guide tactics
2-Way Asymmetrical Model - Answers Use of audience research to craft persuasive
messages to influence public behavior
Conducts formal research and uses feedback to improve persuasive efforts for the
benefit of the organization
Doesn't change the org's policies or views Goal: Get the public to adopt the org's POV
2-Way Symmetrical Model - Answers Uses dialogue to create and sustain mutually
beneficial relationships between an organization and its key stakeholders →
The Ideal* Minimize power imbalances between org/public
Social responsibility perspective Stakeholders + Society + Organizination
Ethics - Answers The study of what is morally right and wrong, what's fair and
unfair, and how we should make decisions.
PRSA Code of Ethics - Answers Critiques of using these ethics?
Hard to enforce all of them (Grey area, vague terms)
There's no training on it
NOT CRITIQUES: NOT POPULAR, OUTDATED
Utilitarianism - Answers Doing what's the best for the biggest number of people
Absolutism - Answers Sticking to "the rule" to what is set
Agent-Based - Answers Making a decision based on your own values/expertise
Personal Framework - Answers Define the issue, Identify stakeholders, Define and
evaluate options, Make and justify a decision
Astroturfing - Answers The practice of publishing opinions or comments on the
internet, in the media, etc. that appear to come from ordinary members of the public
but actually come from a particular company or political group, as a way to make it
seem that a product, policy, opinion, etc. is popular or has public support.