Chapter Ten

Culture and Social conduct are connected. There are different standards in each culture and co-culture. This is how I relate our chapter, standards, ethics and values.

There are five different types of regulators when it comes to social conduct, according to our book they are traditions as far as what has been done in the past, public opinion as far as what is accepted in that community, the law, morality, and ethical stands that are set by different types of professions, organizations, and as well as ourselves through our conscience. These factors keep society functioning. Its important to keep in mind that customs and changing times are involved in deciding what are the standards of ethics.

In general, what needs to be figure out is the companies, communities set standards and abide by them or motivate a change in accept.

EX: Everyone usually says its unethical for American companies to hire foreign people to make such things as clothes for cheaper prices. PR practitioners have to spread the awareness of either they do that but for what appropriate reasons or that they do not do it. Companies such as Abercrombie have clothing made all over the world but you don't hear anything about "sweat shops" because they promote themselves well.

Chapter Nine

The understanding of these three things triggers the way the response to a crisis is managed:

1. The public and political environment in which the crisis is occurring.

2. The culture and inner workings of the organization facing the crisis.

3. Human nature

There are types of crisis that categorized:

1. Acts of God (nature such as storms, earthquakes, etc)

2. Mechanical problems (ruptured pipes, metal fatigue, etc)

3. Human Error (miscommunication, something was opened when it wasn't suppose to be, etc)

4. Management decisions, actions or inaction (problem isn't serious, nobody will find out, etc)

The media has a strong effect on our lives. EX: Haiti and Katrina Disasters

There are guidelines to follow in cases of a crisis

1. Anticipate the unexpected

2. Institute and practice a crisis communications plan for those events that may happen to your organization

3. Train employees in what to do

4. Have one spokesperson communicating to the public and media during the crisis

Chapter Eight

Public Issue Campaigns and Debates

In the court of public opinion, public relations practitioners are the attorneys.

There are four categories that issues can be designated to:

1. Latent - Its something to keep track of because it can sooner or later become an issue.

2. Emerging - It has been written in journals, gathered supporters, groups possibly adopting the issue, the public has most likely become aware of it but there has yet to be an action plan.

3. Hot - An issue in current debate.

4. Fallout - leftover remains from the "hot" issue which can make it back onto the public's agenda because its already been visible.

The target audiences are usually employees, neighbors, stockholders, members, donors, and customers, who seem to have self-interest reasons to support the organization. The general public, who are usually characterized as the uncommitted, will usually not feel much of a stake or depth of conviction. So, practitioners must get people interested. Sometimes this is accomplished by groups coming forth and speak for the general public. You just have to be aware of what you're saying when you speak for a general public. Something such as religious fundamentalists claiming to remove books and magazines, the public rejected them.

Compromising in inevitable if a special interest group and another go head on. Its important to realize this because no one can always have it completely their way and a compromise is the baseline understanding of both organizations working together to create what they favor.

It is useful to focus on which stakeholders are known to be skittish about which potential decisions, then model how the three types of publics will fall out and what their response will likely be. These publics are the Long Haul (those interested in full ramification of the topic), Special Interest (those concerned only about certain elements of the topic), and Hot Button (those aroused only by emotionally debated elements).

EX: When Hilary Clinton came during the election, the rally had a huge turn out. Then Obama came and brought along more people interested in politics and voting. The reason students even heard about these is because groups in our university have been spreading awareness of what is happening and why we should find these events exciting. The information continues as they still rally and tell of community policies and university problems as well.