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