Quizlet definitions Flashcards
PRSA Values
Honesty
Expertise
Advocacy
Loyalty
Fairness
Independence
PRSA Code of Ethics
values driven, advocacy, honesty, expertise, loyalty, fairness, independence
PRSA Ethical Principles
- Act in the public interest
- Use honesty and integrity as your guide
- Avoid conflict of interest
Steps of the Ethics Process
- Identify ethical issue or concern
- Identify internal / external factors
- Identify values
- Identify who will be affected and PR’s relationship with each
- Identify ethical principles
- Make a decision and justify it!
7 Barcelona Principles (Valid Metrics)
- Goal setting and measurement are fundamental to communication and public relations
- Measuring communication outcomes is recommended vs only measuring outputs. Outcomes include changes in awareness, comprehension, opinions and behavior.
- The effect on organizational performance can and should be measured where possible.
- Measurement and evaluation require both qualitative and quantitative methods.
- AVEs are not the value of communication. AVEs only reflect costs.
- Social media can and should be measured consistently with other media channels.
- Measurement and evaluation should be transparent, consistent and valid.
Public Relations
The management function that establishes and maintains mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and its publics on whom its success or failure depends.
12 Functions of PR
Competencies:
Trusted counsel — Advise and anticipate.
Internal communication — Engage employees and build trust.
Media relations — Develop public trust and support by working through journalists and bloggers.
Community relations — Establish public trust and support by working with community groups.
External communication to customers/stakeholders/investors — Build public trust and support.
Public Relations Four-Step Process:
Research
Plan
Implement, execute and communicate
Evaluate
Other:
Publicity and special events
Issues management
Crisis communication
Propaganda Devices
- Glittering generalities (broad statements)
- Name calling (Vilify opponents.)
- Transfer (guilt or credit by association)
- Bandwagon (Everybody’s doing it.)
- Plain folks (anti-elitism, speaker presents as an “average person.”)
- Testimonials (Cite a celebrity, an authority figure or “plain folks” to endorse a cause.)
- Card stacking (one-sided arguments)
Goal
Goal: “To be” statement, just ONE goal. general outcome expected upon completion, long-term
Public
Any group that has an actual or potential interest in or impact on an organization’s ability to achieve its objectives. (For example: retired residents 60 to 75 who live within five miles of our store and want to maintain an active lifestyle.)
Audience
A group of listeners (or spectators) who may receive a message but otherwise have no common connection with one another.
Public Affairs
A specialized area of public relations that builds and maintains mutually beneficial governmental and local community relations. Also applies to public relations practices by the military and governmental agencies because of the 1913 Gillett Amendment.
Public Information
Information open to or belonging to the public. In government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or colleges and universities, the task of disseminating information from the organization to the public. The process is usually done through mass or social media.
RPIE
Research, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
Research Considerations
WHO do we want to reach?
WHAT do we want people in each public to DO?
WHAT messages do we want to communicate to each public that will:
Increase knowledge? Change opinions? Encourage desired behavior?
Primary vs. Secondary Research
Primary: Research done by you. Takes more time and costly.
Secondary: Research done by someone else. Faster but might not meet the needs of the researcher.
Issues Management
anticipating, identifying, evaluating, and responding to issues and trends that potentially affect an organization’s relationships with its publics. Essence: identify issues early, move strategically to minimize impact.
5 Stages of Crisis Management
detection, prevention/preparation, containment, recovery, learning
Communication Technician
executing, doing all of the writing/media outreach, not involved in strategic planning (work in stable, low-threat environments such as non-profits)
Expert Prescriber
manages, counsels on strategic approach, addresses immediate issues/problems (corp affairs, agency management, consumer products). doesn’t involve managers, causing disconnect.
Communication Facilitator
practitioners are sensitive listeners and information brokers, serving as liaisons, interpreters and mediators between an organization and its publics. more public affairs/politics
Problem-Solving Process Facilitator
company analysis. collaborate with other managers to define and solve problems, part of the strategic planning team. Same management step-by-step process used for solving other organizational problems applied to PR problems.
environmental scanning
used primarily to detect and describe current/potential problems
objective
WHO needs to do WHAT by WHEN and HOW MUCH. Must be specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, time bound.
outputs
what is generated as a result of a PR program or campaign that impacts on a target audience or public to act or behave in some way. work completed - press release, speeches, media placement
outtakes
target audience perceptions during the campaign. measurement of what audiences have understood and/or heeded and/or responded to a communication product’s call to seek further information from PR messages prior to measuring an outcome.
outcomes
quantifiable changes in awareness, knowledge, attitude, opinion and behavior levels as a result of a PR program or campaign.
3 basic objectives
informational (knowledge), motivational (attitude re: action), behavioral (actual action)
PR Manager Attributes
strategic decision-making capability, ability to solve problems and produce results, communication knowledge and expertise.
James Grunig’s Excellence Theory
two-way symmetrical model - creates and sustains mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and its key stakeholders (respect your publics)
New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)
Supreme Court decision - public figures must prove actual malice to win a libel case. 1964
AP v. Walker (1967)
Edwin Walker, an Army officer and politician, was angered by negative publicity he was receiving for his conservative political views. He began to file libel lawsuits against various media outlets. One of these suits was in response to coverage of his participation in the University of Mississippi riot, specifically that he had “led a charge of students against federal marshals” and that he had “assumed command of the crowd.” A Texas trial court in 1964 found the statements false and defamatory. The decision was appealed, as Associated Press v. Walker, all the way to the United States Supreme Court, but the Court ruled against Walker and found that although the statements may have been false, the Associated Press was not guilty of reckless disregard in their reporting about Walker. The Court, which had previously said that public officials could not recover damages unless they could prove actual malice, extended this to public figures as well.
Types of Defamation
Libel-written, Slander-spoken. *a republisher of libel is equally liable to the origin source
Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938
Requires all persons who work as agents of foreign governments, companies, or political parties to register within 10 days with the U.S. Attorney General. Public relations practitioners working for any “foreign principals,” whether the practitioners are directly lobbying U.S. government officials or not, must register under this act.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act
a 1998 US law intended to update copyright law for electronic commerce and electronic content providers. It criminalizes the circumvention of electronic and digital copyright protection systems.
10 Step PR Plan
Goal
Audience
Objectives
Strategies
Tactics
Activities
Evaluation
Materials
Budget
Timeline
***do Situation Analysis before making a plan!
4 defenses against libel
Truth, Fair Comment, Privilege, Retraction
6 Standards of Proof of Libel
Defamation, Identification, Publication, Fault, Falsity, Damages
Two Major Goals of Copyright Law
1) protect the original creator of the work and 2) to provide economic incentive for new knowledge. “Exists in original works of authorship in any tangible medium of expression from which they can be perceived, reproduced or otherwise communicated”
Common Law Copyright
an author who creates a tangible expression of his or her ideas immediately has a common law copyright for the work
Statutory Copyright
dividing line between statutory copyright and common law copyright is publication. A general publication is an overt act to surrender ones right to control one’s creative expression and allow public to copy. Limited publication such as delivery of a manuscript does not cause loss of common law rights. You must submit copies to the library of congress and label with a © on the first copy sold or distributed.
slavish copying
word-for-word copying. You can use an idea but not the creative expression for the idea. If used, you must paraphrase and attribute.
ownership of copyright for work by contractors, employees
contractors - based on contract, employees - organization owns the work
Fair comment
Insulates a reporter against defamation, must be related to community interest about the subject. ***Do not confuse with Fair Use which involves copyright!
Fair Use
Allows use of parts of copyrighted materials without violating copyright laws and without paying a fee when that use is for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship or research.
Intellectual Property
Describes rights and entitlements that apply to the ownership and use of certain types of information, ideas or other creative concepts in an expressed (fixed) form.
Right of Privacy
ensures an individual’s. right to be left alone
4 acts that qualify as invasion of privacy
- intrusion into an individual’s affairs or seclusion
- false light
- public disclosure of private facts (medical, sex-crime victim) – truth is not necessarily a defense here
- appropriation of identity without knowledge or compensation
Gag Order
An order issued by a judge restricting the publication of news about a trial or a pretrial hearing to protect the accused’s right to a fair trial.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
A 1966 law that facilitates full or partial disclosure of government information and documents
Common Media Defenses for Defamation
Fair comment
Fair and accurate report
Neutral reportage (does not apply in certain states, such as NY)
Commercial speech
Advertisements and commercials for products and services
Political Speech
Speech that is used to support political candidates or referenda. It is given a high level of protection by the First Amendment as compared to other types of speech.
Corporate Speech
media efforts by corporations that seek to affect political outcomes or social climate
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
banned soft money contributions to national political parties from corporations and unions
Fair Comment vs. Fair Use
Fair comment is privacy, fair use is copyright
Magic Bullet/Hypodermic Needle Theory
Example: I saw an ad for an iPhone and I had to have one!
Developed after WWI (Harold Lasswell, 1927), this theory says media messages directly affect human behavior. The theory reflects stimulus- response thinking (behaviorism). The “atomized,” passive audience can’t resist the message effect. Lasswell’s 1948 statement reflects bullet thinking: Who said what to whom through what channel with what effect?
Two-Step Flow Theory
Example: I’ve seen lots of information online about hybrid cars. I’m interested in buying one, but I won’t until I talk to my father. He knows lots about cars.
Media messages indirectly affect human behavior. “Opinion leaders” mediate message effects. Everyone in the audience can receive the message, but opinion leaders influence how individuals understand and respond to messages. Paul Lazarsfeld first hypothesized two-step flow in 1944 after studying the 1940 presidential election. Elihu Katz and Lazarsfeld refined the theory in 1955 (Personal Influence).
Agenda Setting Theory
Example: I know reducing unemployment is important. I’ve been seeing things in the news about it for weeks.
Media messages can have a direct cognitive effect but not necessarily a behavioral effect. Repeated news reports about an issue can make it important to readers (transfer of issue salience from media agenda to public agenda). Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw first demonstrated agenda setting during the 1968 presidential election (1972 publication).
Framing/second-level agenda setting Theory
Example: I’ve been reading a lot of good things about the governor and I really like him.
As a media-effects theory, framing involves transfer of attributes (or frames) describing a person, issue or topic from media to audience. News stories, for example, describe a political candidate in a certain way. News consumers begin to use those attributes to describe the candidate.
Organizational theory of public relations
Example: Colombian ag agency gave information but did not seek information, wouldn’t engage in dialogue with its publics.
Organizations are more likely to give information than to seek information. Information flow is generally one way (James Grunig, 1976).
Cultivation Theory (George Gerbner)
Example: I won’t go downtown after 6p bc of the crime I’ve seen on the news.
media “cultivates” or shapes a person’s world-view so over time it resembles that of the media’s perspective. Mass media (particularly television) shapes (cultivates) people’s view of social reality. Secondhand experience through media content can distort what people think of the world.
Diffusion of Innovation Theory
How people adopt new products or ideas. The theory proposes five personality categories: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority and laggards.
Uses and Gratifications Theory
theory that looks at the ways media consumers choose media to meet their needs (e.g. college students prefer finding news on social networks rather than trad media)
Third-Person Effect Theory
suggests that people believe others are more affected by media messages than they are themselves (and act in accordance to the assumption that others are making decisions based on media messages - e.g. bashing a product on twitter, so reduce the price)
Spiral of Silence Theory
vocal majority intimidates other into silence
Situational Theory of Publics
Context influences relationships. Publics are active or passive. People are more likely to seek information related to a decision they are making than to reinforce their attitudes (James Grunig, 1966). Those publics are active. Three elements are involved in this process: (1) Problem recognition (awareness, interest), (2) Constraint recognition (what’s required or what motivates a person to act), (3) Level of involvement (importance). Some publics are active on several issues
Social Learning Theory
People adopt opinions and behaviors they see modeled and rewarded. Children watched adults treat dolls violently. Later, those children replicated the violent behavior.
Social Exchange Theory
the theory that human interactions are transactions that aim to maximize one’s rewards and minimize one’s costs
Social Judgment Theory
People accept or reject messages to the extent that message content corresponds to each individual’s attitudes and beliefs and influences his or her self-concept.
Cognitive consistency theories
Ex: I never liked that group but now that I’ve worked with some, they aren’t that bad.
Inconsistencies between attitudes and actions drive (motivate) people to change what they think/believe. The goal is to achieve consistency between expressed opinions and actions.
Framing Message Theory
Ex: 9/11 was a “war on terror” vs. a criminal act.
As a message-focused theory, framing describes how content elements (frames) prompt audience members to recall certain already established, shared and persistent stereotypes, metaphors or social qualities. These predispositions shape how audience members interpret messages and respond to narratives and events.
Rhetoric Message Theory
Ex: Tiger Woods celebrity spokesperson for Buick
The rhetorical approach uses information about the communicator, the logic of the message and the emotional appeal of the message to describe and predict how effective a message will be. People are adjusted to ideas, and ideas are adjusted to people.
Sleeper Message Theory
People may initially reject a message because the source isn’t credible. But after about six weeks, people may forget the source but remember — and begin to believe — the message.
Excellence Theory of PR
Grunig. If an organization makes PR a distinct senior-management function, lets the PR executive fill both management and administrative roles, considers public relations outcomes in policymaking, fosters an open corporate culture, generally practices two-way symmetrical communication and engages activist publics, the organization meets standards of “excellence.”
Press Agentry/Publicity Model
model of public relations in which communication is mostly one-way, initiated by an organization with little concern for accuracy or completeness in order to gain the attention of publics
Public Information Model
model of public relations in which communication is mostly one-way, initiated by an organization to inform publics with truthful and accurate information
two-way asymmetrical model
Two-way: Audience research helps determine actions and craft messages designed to achieve specific behavioral goals
two-way symmetrical model
Two-way with balanced influence (win-win situations). Audience research determines actions that will promote understanding and reduce conflicts with key publics. Publics are as likely to influence the organization as the organization is likely to influence publics.
Shannon-Weaver Model of Communication
Sender, Encoder, Channel, Decoder, Receiver
Wilbur Schramm’s Model of Communication
communication always requires three elements — the source, the message and the destination. Ideally, the source encodes a message and transmits it to its destination via some channel, where the message is received and decoded.
you need to connect with your audience on that shared experience
7 C’s of Communication
Clarity
Credibility
Content
Context
Continuity
Capability
Channels
Six Components of Effective Communication to Audiences
Receive the message
Pay attention to the message
Understanding the message
Believe the message
Remember the message
Act on the message
Edward Bernays
Father of PR. Wrote first book on PR, taught first class on PR, was first to call himself a PR practitioner, coined term PR counsel.
George Creel
Headed the Committee on Public Information, for promoting the war effort in WWI, goal was to mobilize the public. Started the “Four Minutemen” and created “spokespersons” from key interest groups such as lawyers, actors, journalists, teachers. Used persuasive tactics to dehumanize the enemy.
Arthur Page
An AT&T vice president who helped set the standard for corporate PR (“Page Principles”). Said a company’s performance would be determined by its public reputation, therefore, policymaking should involve corporate public relations executives. (1927)
Ivy Ledbetter Lee
Created a “Declaration of Principles” in 1906. Among the principles: to supply news and ensure the company’s work is done in the open, provide accurate information and not advertising, and work with media to respond promptly to requests for additional information. Issued first news release in 1906. Among the first to recognize that publicity needs to be supported by good works. Performance determines the publicity a client gets. Used testimonials. Advised clients to make full disclosure, tell the truth and persuade management to do the same. (1900s)
James Grunig
pioneer of PR theories (excellence theory, situational theory of publics). classified four PR models (press agentry, public information, two-way asymmetrical, two-way symmetrical), made classification of publics (nonpublics, active // hot-issue, apathetic)
Research for PR
Research is the systematic gathering of information to describe and understand a situation, check assumptions about publics and perceptions, and determine the public relations consequences. Research is the foundation for effective strategic public relations planning. Research helps define the problem and publics.
Answers these 3 Q’s before making a PR plan:
WHO do we want to reach?
WHAT do we want people in each public to DO?
WHAT messages do we want to communicate to each public that will: Increase knowledge? Change opinions? Encourage desired behavior?
Primary Research
research done firsthand for the first time
Secondary Research
past research which has already been performed and often already published
Situation Analysis
Defining the problem (or opportunity). It involves probing and monitoring knowledge, opinions, attitudes, and behaviors of those internal and external publics concerned with and affected by the acts and policies of an organization. Provides the foundation for all the other steps in the problem-solving process. Most difficult part of the process. Involves monitoring the social, technical, and political environment.
Problem Statement
One sentence or paragraph, written in present tense, does not imply solutions or blame. It describes the situation in specific and measurable terms, detailing most of or all of the following: What is the source of concern? Where is this a problem? When is it a problem?Who is involved or affected?How are they involved or affected? Why is this a concern to the organization and its publics?
Informal Research
Used to detect or explore problem situations, cannot apply statistically to the general public. Exploratory research. Focus groups, personal observation, community forums, field reports, social media
Formal Research
can apply formal research to the larger population. Follows the rules of science, employs systematic and objective procedures for making the observations, measured, data is analyzed. surveys, polls, published research, content analysis
Qualitative Research
informal research methods, including observation, following social media sites, in-depth interviews, focus groups, and projective techniques
Quantitative Research
structured responses that can be statistically tested to confirm insights and hypotheses generated via qualitative research or secondary data (surveys, polls, etc.)
Program Strategy
overall concept, approach or general plan for the program designed to achieve an objective. represents someone’s working theory of what has to be done to achieve an outcome. Working theory drives every program decision. Should begin with action words! (Establish, reinforce, demonstrate)
Types of Publics
All-issue publics - active on all issues in the situation set
Apathetic publics - inattentive or inactive on al issues in the set
Single-issue publics - active on one or a limited number of related issues
Hot-issue publics - active after media coverage exposes almost everyone to the issue, making it a topic of widespread social conversation
Defining Publics
geography, demographics, psychographics, covert power, position, reputation, membership, decision makers, behavior
Objective
WHO needs to do WHAT by WHEN and HOW MUCH. Objectives represent the specific knowledge, opinion and behavioral outcomes to be achieved for each well-defined target public. They are SMART.
Output Objectives
focuses on tactical completions
Outcome Objectives
focuses on a measurable change in knowledge, opinions or behavior
Tactic
the actual events, media and methods used to implement the strategy
Types of Crises
immediate, emerging, sustained
Framing Angles for News Media
- Audience impact - how many people does this affect
- Proximity - does this affect the local community
- Timeliness - like bread, news gets stale
- Prominence - is this recognizable and well-known? e.g. celebs/politicians
- Novelty or oddity - unusual, bizarre, unexpected
- Conflict, drama, or excitement - strikes, wars, crime, politics, sports
Public Adoption Process
Awareness (Knowledge Change) Media
Interest (Attitude Change) Media or People
Evaluation (Attitude Change) Media or People
Trial (Behavior Change) People, especially fam/friends
Adoption (Behavior Change) People, especially fam/friends
Gunning Fog Index
a readability formula for determining reading complexity in documents. measures reading difficulty based on average sentence length and the percentage of words with three or more syllables (6 = 6th grader, 17 = college graduate)
Easy Listening Formula
calculate the average number of syllables above one per word in sentences. Represents approximate grade level to follow and easily understand what is being said. TV news copy averages below 12 on ELF.
Content Analysis Aspects
place or position, prominence, share of voice (how much space did you get), issues or topics (is story topic strategically important to client), messages, visuals (logo, photo, etc)
Sample Size
A random sample of 384 from a population of 100,000 will yield a confidence level of 95%with a margin of error of plus or minus 5%, considered sufficiently accurate.
Scientific Method of Research
Select a problem.
Review existing research and relevant theories.
Develop hypotheses or research questions.
Determine an appropriate methodology/research design.
Collect data to test the hypothesis or answer the research question.
Analyze and interpret results.
Presentresultsinappropriateform.
Replicate the study (when necessary).
Q’s when considering key publics
Who needs to know or understand? Who needs to be involved? Whose advice or support do you need Who will be affected? Who has something to gain or lose?
PR Plan Format
Problem — (one to three sentences)
Situation analysis—Summary of research findings, opportunities and concerns
Goals — (overarching)
For the remainder of the plan, repeat these items for each public:
Public
Objectives (both long-term and short-term)
Communication strategy
Messages
Tactics/tools
Budget(Abudgetsummaryiscommonattheendofaplan.)
Staffing/responsibility
Timeline
Evaluation
Summary documents o Budget
o Materialslist
o Tasklistandtimetable
Lang and Lang “Collective Dynamics”
Example: Consider the lengthy debate about secondhand smoke in public places and today’s laws against smoking in restaurants. Changed public opinion led to laws and regulations, such as nonsmoking areas or outright bans on smoking in public places.
Omnibus survey or study
A quantitative research method that combines questions from several organizations into a research company’s national or regional poll
open systems PR model
adapts to changing organizational environments
8 Steps of Crisis Comms Response Sequence
- Identify the type of crisis
- Assemble the team
- Review the plan
- Adjust the plan based on the current situation:
-identify wha can go wrong and become highly visible
-assign. priorities based on which vulnerabilities are most. urgent
-draft questions, answers and resolutions for potential scenarios
-focus on what to do and say during the first critical hours of a crisis
-develop a strategy to contain and counteract, not react and respond - Define the crisis in terms of a triggering event - the cause
- Identify priority publics
- Strive for a timely, consistent and candid flow of accurate info to internal and external publics.
- Evaluate and Review: Learn from the crisis experience.
9 Steps to Restore Trust
CCCCADAREx - diff in. JL handout
1. Candor
2. Apologize
3. Explanation
4. Affirmation
5. Declaration
6. Contrition
7. Consultation
8. Communication
9. Restitution
Porter’s Five Forces
Assess where power and weaknesses lie and assume that five important forces affect competition: threat of entry, threat of substitute, supplier power, buyer power, and competitive rivalry
3 pillars of reputation:
economic, social, deliver outcomes to stakeholders
7 dimensions of brand
product
innovation
performance
citizenship
workplace
leadership
governance
Crisis Communications Planning Process
- Identify what can go wrong or become highly visible
- Identify priorities based on vulnerabilities most likely to occur and develop scenarios for each
- Develop Q&A’s for each scenario
- Determine what to do/say in first critical hour
- Develop a strategy to contain and counteract vs. respond and react
Crisis Process
- Problem identification and prioritization
- Manage the victim dimension
- Employee communication
- Communicate with those indirectly affected
- Deal with self-appointed, self-anointed and the media
Active Crisis Steps
- Activate the crisis communications team including the spokesperson
- Establish regular cadence of communications
- Return to normal operations of the organization
- Adjust strategies and policies as needed
- Recovery - strategic and organizational changes
Sherman and Clayton Anti-Trust Acts
passed to preserve business competition by prohibiting monopolies, monopolistic practices, and restraint of trade. outlaws anticompetitive mergers, predatory and discriminatory pricing, and exclusive sales contracts.
Robinson-Patman Act (1936)
In response to the growing power of chain stores in the 1920’s and 1930’s, the Robinson-Patman Act became codified in U.S. law to prevent wholesaler distributers from giving preferable volume pricing to franchises over small businesses.
For profit business
Publicly traded corporations such as General Motors or privately-owned companies such as Dell that do business to make money for shareholders or owners.
Nonprofit business
Organizations such as certain hospitals, public radio stations, most colleges and universities, and charities that don’t do business to make a profit for owners. Any surplus income derived from the business operation is used to expand the organization or support its mission. Nonprofit organizations often provide a public service.
not-for-profit business
Organizations such as credit unions, mutual insurance companies and farm cooperatives that may generate revenue surpluses but are not designed to earn money for owners or members. Surplus revenue is generally used to carry out operations. If fiscal reserves become large enough, however, some money may be returned to member-owners.
Horizontal business
In horizontal businesses, production units create similar outputs. An example would be a brewer that produces beer under many different labels.
Vertical Business Structure
Vertical businesses control all parts of their supply chains.
Centralized decision making
top-level leadership group sets organizational policy and direction, can create distance from market and consumer needs
Decentralized decision making
decisions are made in operating units across the organizations, promotes flexibility but can create silos
10K
Annual report, comprehensive overview of a company, must be filed within 60 days of fiscal year. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition (MD&A) is a must-read, has SWOT.
8K
current report, unscheduled, 4 days material changes to an org, usually when something big or bad happens. may include indicators of problems facing the entire industry or product category
10Q
quarterly report, unaudited, due 35 days after the close of each of the first three fiscal quarters, 4Q is for 10K
Proxy Statement / Form Def 14A
created for shareholders prior to the annual meeting. can include proposals for new additions to the board of directors, information on directors’ and executives’ salaries, information on bonus and options plans for directors and key managers
Federal Lobbying Act (1913)
lobbyists must register with the U.S. House
State the money received as well as putting name on any published articles released
Registration of Foreign Agents Act of 1938
requires public relations professionals who represent a foreign government to register with the U.S. State Department, must report under oath every 6 months
Regulation Fair Disclosure (Reg FD) (2000)
requires all publicly traded companies to disclose material information to all investors at the same time
Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002)
corporate auditing accountability, responsibility and transparency. enacted after accounting scandals at Enron
5c
gag period / quiet period from the date a corporation officially registers its intent to offer a security to 90 days after the registration statement becomes effective. No comments or written statements on future sales or earnings projections, predictions, estimates or similar information
10-b5
truth and accuracy in all publicity materials including speeches, press releases, etc.
Cause and Effect Diagrams
Help managers analyze a particular problem by thinking through the reasons a problem exists. Also known as Fishbone Diagrams.
Drill Down Technique
Gives planners a visual image of a problem by breaking the problem into progressively smaller parts. By examining elements that contribute to the problem, information relating to the problem and questions raised by the problem, communication experts can identify best solutions to respond to the many parts of a problem.
Balance Sheet
Balance sheets show what a company owns and what it owes at a fixed point in time.
Income Statement
how much money a company made and spent over a period of time, also shows the costs and expenses associated with earning that revenue. The literal “bottom line” of the statement usually shows the company’s net earnings or losses.
Cash Flow Statement
the exchange of money between a company and the outside world also over a period of time.
While an income statement can tell you whether a company made a profit, a cash flow statement can tell you whether the company generated cash. involves operating, investing and financing activities.
bottom line of the cash flow statement shows the net increase or decrease in cash
statements of shareholders’ equity
shows changes in the interests of the company’s shareholders over time
