Answer each question in short paragraphs
#7)Superbowl Ad controversy-Is any news-Good News?
Each year superbowl ads are some of the most viewed and are also often some of the most controversial. For example, in the past several years ads such as the sketchers superbowl ad generated some controversy with animal rights activists and the Go Daddy ads were accused of being too “racy” for broad audiences. The old adage is that any news is good news..and that controversy causes buzz (which is attention) Did these companies go too far? Is the controversy generating buzz that could help them gain recognition? Will it really hurt them?
#8)Celebrity Twitter Nightmare
In the last several years quite a few celebrities and politicians have been involved in scandals over Facebook posts, tweets on twitter and/or posts on Instagram. From offensive statements to tweeting indecent pictures, should these mistakes be such a large public issue? Some argue that it is because politicians and celebrities are role models, others argue that it’s not and is a matter of privacy. Is this a public or personal matter (because the information was sent via facebook and twitter)?
#9)Technology- Will it create or reduce jobs in PR
Technology is advancing rapidly, and has developed even more quickly in the age of COVID-19. Will the rapid advances in communications technology and the switch by many to digital environments create jobs or cost jobs? Why do you think so?
#10)Superbowl Ad’s–Worth $4million for 30 seconds?
The cost for the recent ads during the superbowl was $4 Million for a 30 second ad. Is a superbowl ad really worth it? Do you think they really increase awareness and business?
#11) Can you demonstrate the results of any PR effort without using research or numbers to support your conclusions?
Can you demonstrate the results of any PR effort without using research or numbers to support your conclusions? Why or Why Not and if your answer is yes…how can you do so?
#12)Facebook, Internet, and Mobile Surveys: Are the results valid and generalizable?
In part of the lecture on research we discuss the concepts of survey validity, reliability, and in the end generalizability. Today there are many surveys that are conducted via the internet, some using social media platforms and even on mobile platforms. Researchers can even buy ready packaged internet and Facebook based samples for their surveys. Do you think these survey results are generalizable? Are they worth the effort and the money spent on them?
#13)Are telephone polls still a useful tool in predicting public opinion? Why or why not?
Are telephone polls a useful tool in predicting public opinion? (Think for a second…Do you have a landline? Is your cell phone “listed”?) So are they useful…Why or why not?
#14)Given all the attempts by marketers to use surveys to generate sales leads…do you think that individuals today are cynical about participating in research? Are you? What should we do to communicate the credibility of our research?
Given all the attempts by marketers to use surveys to generate sales leads…do you think that individuals today are cynical about participating in research? Are you? What should or could we do to communicate the credibility of our research?
#15)Has poor planning ever produced positive results?
I know lots of students and professionals that like to procrastinate. However, I always like to ask the question…Has poor planning ever produced positive results? Can you provide an example?
#16)Worst Planning mistake?
What is the worst planning mistake you have ever seen or heard of? Could the problem been easily avoided? Provide links if you supply one off of the internet so that others can see what happened.
#17)What is the best viral internet tactic you have seen?
The Old Spice Internet Viral Campaign is one of the most successful to date. What is the best viral internet tactic you have seen? Please provide links if possible.
#18)Provocative Message Campaigns
Can using a provocative message to “jar” or “shake” people into awareness work? Or do they do more harm than good? Your thoughts..and supply examples.
#19)Extreme PR tactics
From the violence of the World Trade Organization protestors, to boarding and ramming of ships by Green Peace, and the use of “bloody” happy meals by PETA. Do extreme tactics really work?
#20)Media Relations- Bieber, Lohan, Sheen?
Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan, and Justin Bieber have had publicists quit working for them. Should they or shouldn’t they have quit? Was it ethical to do so?
#21)Bloggers- journalists or not?
Are bloggers journalists? Are blogs really sources of news? What are your thoughts?
#22)Fake news-Journalists?
Recently walmart came under fire because they sponsored two “campers” that were RVing across the US and were supposedly blogging on their own accord. The media and public alike were critical when it came out that they were paid spokespersons. Are such actions ethical..and do you think they damage the public trust of PR?
#23)Should celebrities be allowed to sue for defamation against false claims without having to prove malicious intent?
In the age of the internet where released information can linger indefinitely, should celebrities be able to sue for defamation and/or libel without having to prove malicious intent?
#24)Should big tech like Facebook or twitter be able to practice censorship/editorial control, but stay free from regulation related to editorial control?
Should big tech like Facebook or twitter be able to practice censorship/editorial control, but stay free from regulation related to editorial control? This discussion pertains to FCC section 230 as discussed in the lecture. Should big tech be able to ban whatever comments they want (editorial control), but yet be treated like a telephone company or internet service that simple provides a line? Why or why not?
#25)Have fake reviews and posts damaged the credibility of the internet?
Have the use of fake reviews and/or fake discussion group/chat room posts hurt the credibility of information on the internet? Why or why not?
#26)What is the best social media campaign that you have seen on the internet?
Social media has proven to be an effective way to reach people, especially those focusing on smartphones and computers. Social media has been used in campaigns from movies to tourism. What is the best social media campaign you have seen to date? Please examples or provide links!!!
#27)Global PR- When in Rome?
There is an old saying: “When in Rome do as the Romans”. Should organizations act that way even if its considered unethical in their home country (an example: paying for news stories)? Why or Why Not?
#28)Global PR: USA image?
What do you think is the image of the United States internationally? Are we liked, disliked, or are international audiences neutral about us? Support your answer.
#29)Are todays organizations more ethical than they us to be?
News such as VW’s emissions scandal (where they had the cars report fake emissions data when they were being tested), and the Flint water crisis (Lead in the water and poisoning many children) can create cynicism as to motives and ethics of todays organizations. Are todays corporations & organizations more ethical than they used to be..or are they more unethical. Why do you think this is true?
#30) Starbuck’s “Race Together” Campaign
In 2015 Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announced the launch of the “Race Together” campaign. Targeting this difficult issue in the US, Baristas were supposed to discuss race relations with customers while they waited for their drinks at Starbucks. While the campaign was criticized and quickly withdrawn, the question remains should corporations try to drive discussions on difficult social issues like race relations? Why or Why Not?
#31) Corporate PR & Cause related marketing
Does cause related marketing ( such as pink products to benefit breast cancer research) help an organizations reputation? What’s the best example of cause related marketing that you have seen?
#32)PR & Universities: Are you prepared for a crisis?
Working in a communications or PR capacity for a university will mean preparing for crises, like the one we had at CSUF last fall when we had potential gunmen on campus. Today the top outside threat at most universities is a “shooter”. Have you signed up for the emergency management system at CSUF? If not Why? If you did..what did you think of our shelter in place drill in early April? What could have made it more effective?
#33)Schools & Universities- PR & budget cuts
We all have read about and heard about the past and upcoming budget cuts to K-12 Education in California and to the CSU & UC systems. Although the systems have tried to tell the public the value they bring to california..have they done a good job? From a PR perspective what more could we do to bring attention to the impacts of such cuts in the hopes of avoiding them? Be specific.
#34)Penn State/ Michigan State/Olympic Gymnastics Sexual Assault Scandals
A retired football coach at Penn State was convicted with sexually assaulting a number of young boys, some of which he assaulted on campus. At the heart of the crisis is testimony that indicates a graduate student saw the ex-coach committing sex acts with a young boy in the shower in 2002, and that he told Coach Joe Paterno (A sports legend), who in turn did not call the police, but rather only told the athletic director. The President of the University, and many sports administrators as well as 38 yr football coach Joe Paterno have been fired. Many have said that they did not do enough (including the graduate assistant and coach Paterno), but others can claim that some of the information that was brought to them was unsubstantiated, so they needed to follow the organizations rules on reporting what they had seen. Some of which have been convicted. A similar scenario played out at Michigan State University in 2017-2018 with young female gymnasts, some of which were olympians. The doctor there has pleaded guilty to hundreds of charges and MSU has settled $500M in lawsuits. If you were Joe Paterno or a coach at Michigan State and someone told you what they had seen (you did not witness it first hand) what would you have done? How you think they handled these issues?
#35)Crisis Management- Domino’s
Domino’s was hit with a crisis where employees uploaded a video showing them doing “nasty” things to food they were preparing. The president responded in this Youtube release (see course documents). Was this response effective? Why or why not?
#36)VW- Crisis Management
Volkswagen was caught cheating emissions standards in both the US and Europe, by putting software in their “Clean Diesel” cars that detected when they were being tested for emissions. As the crisis unfolded their CEO issued the apology video that I have uploaded to the course website. Was this apology effective? Why or Why Not? Do you think VW will ever regain the same level of trust from consumers that they once had?
#37)Crisis Management-The pandemic?
Many organizations, cities, and states have were hit hard by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Thinking back to the start of the pandemic in your opinion what’s the best example of an action or statement by one of those organizations that may increased the severity of the crisis or created a second crisis in the face of the pandemic? Why do you believe that?
#38) Ent & Sports PR- is the media too hard on celebrities?
In an era of scandals involving Tiger Woods, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Charlie Sheen, Kobe Bryant etc., some might suggest that the media is too aggressive and “piles” on just to build ratings. Is the media too hard on celebrities? Why or Why Not?
#39)Travel PR- Dealing with Travel Advisories
Recently the US State Dept. has issued travel warnings about 12-14 different states in Mexico and that drug cartels may be targeting Americans. From a PR perspective what do you think you would do if you were working in PR to promote an area that had warnings issued..an you honestly believed the risk of harm or an incident was very small?
#40)Disney PR?
Disney has frequently been under fire for their use of sub-contractors that pay low wages in third world countries and their plans to expand in Anaheim (facilities which would replace low cost housing). Has Disney been effective with their PR? Why or Why not?
#41)Marketing the LA Olympics in 2028
Its been 25+ years since the world cup (Copa Mundial) or an olympics was hosted by the US and in Southern California. Given that the LA has received the 2028 Olympics what are the key selling points of the LA/OC market to host the Olympics?
#42)IMC: Whats the best movie promotion that you have seen?
What is the best movie promotion that you have ever seen? What made it great or effective? Be specific and provide links if a site is available?
#43)Are publicity stunts to promote movies ethical? : Battle for Los Angeles: Viral Marketing Hoax
The film industry is famous for using “publicity stunts to get attention for upcoming films. In 2011, the movie Battle for Los Angeles used several websites that urged people to report UFO sightings (www.reportthreats.org) and news releases of supposed of photos showing UFO sightings (e.g. over Jerusalem) as a way to drive interest in the topic before the release of the movie. Is this an ethical from a public relations standpoint? Why or Why not?
#44)IMC: Over the top movie trailers
Some pictures use “over the top” trailers to create Buzz…including an initial trailer for The Hangover 2. Are these effective in creating buzz or getting people to go to the theatre? Why or why not?
#45)IMC: Do clips on Youtube help or hurt movie ticket sales
Does the posting of large clips from movies & TV shows on Youtube help or hurt ticket sales and/or streaming sales & rentals? Support your answer.
#46)PR’s Legacy…Positive or Negative?
We have now finished this course..and all of you have seen PR in the media and by organizations. Whats your opinion of PR’s legacy? Is it positive (are companies doing better or more to win your trust) or negative (are PR attempts just getting “slicker” or more deceptive) and why?
#47)Is America really getting more diverse or more homogenous because of the internet/technology?
Is America really getting more diverse or is it getting more homogenous because of the internet and other digital technologies, in part because we now use shared common technologies to interact? For example, most young people regardless of background (to a larger extent) text and use social media, which means more common ground and a more common way to connect. Your thoughts?
#48)If there was one piece of advice you could give to another student on how to get ahead in their career what would it be?
If there was one piece of advice you could give to another student on how to get ahead in their career what would it be? Has someone else given you advice that turned out to be really helpful? Share it but please be specific..and perhaps provide an example of how it helped you or someone you know.
Textbook:
https://dokumen.pub/public-relations-2nbsped-0190925094-9780190925093.html
