PR Writing Quiz Questions/Answers

Proofreading generally is easier using a printed copy rather than reading from a computer screen (True/False)

True

The first news release was written to announce (blank)

a college graduation

Another name for an overline (introductory section of a headline set in smaller type above the main news headline) is a (blank)

Kicker

Security and self-fulfillment are among the motivational characteristics associated with (blank)

Maslow's hierarchy of needs

The transition from an introduction to the rest of the feature story is called a/an (blank)

Nut Graf

The best way to use quotations in news releases written for broadcast media is to (blank)

Paraphrase the quote

Tracking what people know and think about an organization involves (blank)

Performance/perception audit

A story focusing on an individual's personality rather than on achievement is a/an (blank)

Personal Profile

A characteristic of a newsletter is that it is (blank)

Published periodically

Highlighted excerpts from an article featuring quotations or paraphrases are called (blank)

Pull Quotes

Content analysis can provide several benefits, including (blank)

Showing trends in the levels of visibility, criticism, and support

A newsletter written for stamp collectors is an example of a/an (blank) newsletter.

Special Interest

Writing guidelines for effective headlines include the use of (blank)

Strong Words and Phrases

The two perspectives from which an organization should analyze issues are (blank)

The organization and its publics

The "Ti" of SiLoBaTi refers to information that is (blank)

timely

Human interest involves information that is (blank)

unusual

A sound bite is also known as a/an (blank)

Actuality

The Securities and Exchange Commission requires all stock-issuing companies to publish (blank)

Annual Reports

A public relations practitioner can orchestrate situations to make them newsworthy (True/False)

True

Attribution generally follows rather than precedes a quotation in a news release (True/False)

True

Background fact sheets present capsulized bits of background information about an organization or its programs (True/False)

True

Backgrounders can be written both for reporters and for internal audiences such as speechwriters, spokespersons and newsletter writers. (True/False)

True

Changes in audience media habits and new technological developments available to public relations practitioners have decreased the need for practitioners to rely primarily on news releases to communicate with their publics (True/False)

True

Freewriting can help organize your thoughts before writing or talking about a topic. (True/False)

True

Identification of wants, interests, and needs is part of the analysis of target publics (True/False)

True

If any reader feels excluded by the language being used, the writer is failing to communicate effectively.

True

Newsletters are the most ancient of public relations tools. (True/False)

True

Part of the planning process for writing Q&As is to identify questions relevant to the wants, interests, and needs of the key public. (True/False)

True

Public relations writing can be both persuasive and informative. (True/False)

True

Public relations writing can be used to express opinion. (True or False)

True

Sex appeal sometimes increases attention, but it often decreases retention and brand recall. (True/False)

True

Target publics can be identified by conducting an audit of the organization's environment (True/False)

True

Video News Releases (VNRs) should include a written advisory and script along with the tape. (True/False)

True

Public relations writing is mainly (blank) writing

a combination of creative and functional

Elements of a fact sheet do NOT include (blank)

a lead paragraph

The best protection against a charge of invasion of privacy is (blank)

consent

Expertise and sincerity are persuasive factors associated with (blank)

credibility

Words and phrases that the courts have ruled likely to be defamatory are called (blank)

odious labels

The two-step flow of communication theory added the concept of (blank)

opinion leader

An optional part of a news release is a/an (blank)

organizational ID

The first stage of the public relations writing process is to (blank)

plan what you want to write

The first step in doing effective interview research is to (blank)

prepare questions for interviewees

The channel of communication that has been found to be most effective in presenting complex issues is (blank)

print media

Unethical persuasive communication is called (blank)

propaganda

Public media such as television and newspapers are most effective in (blank) attitudes

reinforcing

The "Si" of SiLoBaTi refers to information that is (blank)

significant

The indication of the subject of a news release on pages following the first page is called a/an (True/False)

slug line

Information about parking arrangements for a concert scheduled next month by the rock group Granny's Jammies would be an example of (blank)

soft news

"She said" is an example of a/an (blank)

speech tag

You are public relations director for a school district. The likely format to invite reporters to interview a new head cook who used to run a restaurant in New York City is a (blank)

story idea memo

"Best," "most useful," and "greatest" are examples of (blank)

subjective superlatives

In following advice to use appropriate forms of English, a writer would (blank)

use the language form used by the target public

The ultimate rule of public relations writing is to (blank)

write so the reader can understand

The concept of writing naturally means (blank)

writing in a way that sounds genuine

You are a public relations volunteer for an organization called Carefree Critters, which provides grass-roots training for people opposed to the arbitrary use of cages and pens to house zoo animals and household pets. You have decided to write a feature about the leader of this movement and to use this person to provide information about alternatives to caging animals. The most appropriate writing format for doing this is a/an (blank)

Interview

Continual attention to how an organization is affected by social, legal, professional and economic trends and the public opinion surrounding these is known as (blank)

Issues management

When typing pronouncers, accented syllables should be written (blank)

In all-capital letters

A feature that presents technical information in easy-to-understand language is a/an (blank)

Information Digest

Two types of fact sheets are (blank)

news and background

An optional element of news releases that visually accents the word "news" is called a/an (blank)

news flag

A feature that identifies a common problem and relates how an organization has dealt with it is a/an (blank)

Case Study

Using "non-sober condition" when referring to intoxication is an example of (blank)

doublespeak

A tape with unedited segments given to a television news director is called a/an (blank)

B-Roll

The writing format that can help an organization speak with one voice in a variety of forums is a/an (blank)

Backgrounder

"Write for the ear" means that broadcast releases should be written in a tone that is (blank)

Conversational

The statement that clearly indicates the organization's philosophy and/or purpose for publishing a newsletter is called a/an (blank) statement

Editorial

Writing that evokes a meaningful and emotional response in the reader is said to have the quality of (blank)

Empathy

Attribution of quotes may be to organizations as well as to people (True/False)

False

Connotation is the dictionary definition of a word; the direct and explicit meaning. (True/False)

False

Feature writing generally uses the inverted pyramid format. (True/False)

False

Great writers usually write effortlessly. (True/False)

False

Highly credible sources who are experts on an issue are less likely to be perceived as fairly presenting information about that issue (True/False)

False

Journalists should write with objectivity, but public relations writers preparing news releases are not expected to follow this practice (True/False)

False

News directors prefer fully packaged video news releases that need no editing. (True/False)

False

Newsletters should avoid the use of jargon. (True/False)

False

Public relations writing is quite simple and only uses a few writing formats. (True/False)

False

The term "libel" refers to oral and written defamation (True/False)

False

Using the word "alleged" with defamatory statements protects the writer from libel charges (True/False)

False

Writers should get client approvals on their first draft before proceeding through the writing process (True/False)

False

Writing is an intuitive activity that everyone does naturally.(True/False)

False

The term that best describes writing is a/an

acquired skill

Volunteerism and philanthropy are associated with the human characteristic called (blank)

altruism

The writing technique of explaining unfamiliar concepts by using familiar terms and imagery is called (blank)

an analogy

A release about the selection of a new CEO is a type of (blank) release

announcement

An essential element of news releases that adds to the basic journalistic writing formula is a/an (blank)

benefit statement

Ways a public relations practitioner can generate news for a client or organization do NOT include (blank)

buying an add

When faced with jargon, the first response of the public relations writer should be to (blank)

decide if the jargon is appropriate for the audience

The person who decides if a piece of information qualifies as news is the (blank)

editor

The term "gatekeeper" refers to (blank)

editors and news directors

Setting a specific time before which information in a news release may NOT be used by the media is called a/an (False/True)

embargo

Information stripped down to the bare facts and presented in bullet form is a/an (blank)

fact sheet

Information about the arrest of the lead singer of Granny's Jammies on tax-evasion charges would be an example of (blank)

hard news

A benefit of using active voice is that it (blank)

increases readability

Persuasion is a process of communication that seeks to (blank)

influence

Gathering information by secretly taping a telephone conversation is an invasion of privacy based on the principle of (blank)

intrusion

The specific public selected as the object of a particular communication program is called a/an (blank)

key public

The most practical reason for using inclusive language is that it (blank)

leads to more effective writing

As public relations director for a school district, the likely format to invite reporters to a news conference to announce the selection of a new superintendent is a (blank)

media advisory

"Press Advisory" is another term for a/an (blank)

media alert

To generate newsworthy information, a public relations writer must understand both (blank)

media and client organization