Evolution of Public Relations in American Business History

What is the main focus of Public Relations according to the text?

Creating flashy advertisements
Maximizing profits for organizations
Influencing political decisions
Building and maintaining positive relationships with the public (correct)

Which model of PR focused on generating publicity through staged events and performances?

Press Agentry/Publicity model (correct)
Economic boom and bust model
Technological change model
Urbanization and industrialization model

What is the main characteristic of a pseudo-event?

They are always related to reality
They are spontaneous and unplanned
They are less attractive than real events
They are created for a specific purpose and widely reported (correct)

How did the evolution of technology impact the field of journalism according to the text?

It increased the speed of communication, leading to a focus on delivering news quickly (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a news release in public relations?

To provide reliable information to the media for reporting (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did politicians like FDR use pseudo-events in crafting their public image?

To control their narrative and shape public perception (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between hard sell and soft sell in PR?

Hard sell focuses on immediate results, while soft sell emphasizes a long-term approach (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is Bernays' 'two-fold' function of PR according to the text?

To interpret clients’ interests to the public and the public to the client (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary distinction between PR and propaganda mentioned in the text?

PR aims at building meaning and trust, while propaganda is about manipulation and deception (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does a pseudo-event aim to achieve according to the text?

Influence public opinion and achieve a desired end (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the concept behind 'engineering of consent' in the context of PR?

Using an engineering approach to understand situations and garner public support for ideas (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does a consumer citizen differ from a regular consumer?

Consumer citizens make choices based on ethical and social considerations in addition to economic factors (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of government relations in PR?

Building and maintaining relationships with government officials (B) Signup and view all the answers

How did public relations evolve in the 1930s according to the text?

Becoming more important outside of crisis situations (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was one of Bernays' beliefs related to public relations and citizenship?

Public relations and 'good citizenship' go hand-in-hand (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does lobbying primarily involve?

Attempting to sway governmental decisions on legislative or regulatory issues (C) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of PR, what is the reciprocity of PR mainly concerned with?

Understanding and supplementing the relationship between business and the public (C) Signup and view all the answers

How did public relations adapt to the impact of technology and speed according to the text?

Identifying fires quickly and responding promptly (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of grassroots lobbying according to the text?

'Astroturfing' accusations must be avoided (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does public opinion influence the practice of PR, as mentioned in the text?

By emphasizing the need for authenticity and trust (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the consequences mentioned in the text regarding damaging a reputation?

It is easier to damage than to repair. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of early public opinion views discussed in the text?

Authority was not questioned. (C) Signup and view all the answers