1. For public relations practitioners to be ethical, they must
a. do the right thing.
b. stonewall if it’s in the best interest of a client.
c. tell the truth.
d. a & c
Answer: d Level: easy p. 109
2. In May 2000, the New York Times reported from a survey of 1,700 public relations executives that
a. about 25 percent admitted they “lied on the job.”
b. almost 40 percent said they had “exaggerated the truth.”
c. another 44 percent said they were unsure about the ethics of their actions.
d. all of the above
Answer: d Level: moderate p. 109
3. Which of the following is NOT an indication of the seriousness of ethical breaches in public relations?
a. PRSA revoked lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s membership.
b. PRSA in 2000 abandoned its 50-year-old Code of Professional Standards for the Practice of Public Relations for a significantly different Member Code of Ethics.
c. Ketchum was embroiled in a “pay for publicity” scandal.
d. Fleishman-Hillard overbilled the city of Los Angeles for its services.
Answer: a Level: easy p. 109 & 122
4. Basic values that the PRSA code of ethics addresses include
a. honesty.
b. loyalty.
c. fairness.
d. all of the above
Answer: d Level: easy pp. 110 &121–122
5. Given various ethical breaches in society, there is
a. some relaxation in what is expected from the field of public relations.
b. relaxation, at least, in what is expected in the way of results.
c. even more pressure on the practice and practitioners.
d. none of the above
Answer: c Level: moderate p. 111
6. Individuals’ ethical construct and approach are influenced by
a. their conscience.
b. norms of acceptability determined by an organization, profession, or society.
c. religious, cultural, and educational factors.
d. all of the above
Answer: d Level: easy p. 111
7. John Stuart Mill’s approach to ethics recommended
a. doing that which is between two extremes.
b. doing that which brings the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
c. doing that which could become accepted practice.
d. doing that which demonstrates loving your neighbor as yourself.
Answer: b Level: moderate p. 111
8. The “golden rule” prescribes
a. doing that which demonstrates loving your neighbor as yourself.
b. doing that which brings the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
c. doing that which does the least harm to the least number.
d. doing that which could become accepted practice.
Answer: a Level: moderate p. 111
9. The “golden mean” of moral virtue advocates
a. doing that which does the least harm to the greatest number.
b. doing that which brings the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
c. doing that which is found between two extremes.
d. doing that which you deem to be the societal standard.
Answer: c Level: moderate p. 111
10. Professional ethics
a. is often called “applied ethics.”
b. suggests that distinctly different professional conduct is appropriate.
c. monitors, assesses, and enforces behavior established in a formal code.
d. a & c
Answer: d Level: easy p. 111