Communications 300 Lesson 11

According to Bivins, caveat emptor does not assume that an intelligent consumer will not be able to discern nuances in messages. Caveat emptor is a principle that places the responsibility on the buyer to be cautious and diligent in their purchases, implying that consumers should be able to discern nuances and make informed decisions. This statement contradicts Bivins' perspective on caveat emptor.

According to Bivins, altering quotes slightly is not acceptable, even if it is done to make the source's comments more meaningful in context.

According to Bivins, when creating a plan for advertising and public relations, it is important to consider the persuasive message, the persuasive technique to be used, and the motive of the persuader. This suggests that all three factors play a role in effective communication and ethical decision-making in professional communications.

According to Bivins, the media cannot escape responsibility for the harm caused by the factors they are responsible for, even if there are other factors also causing harm.

Aristotle believed that rhetoric played a crucial role in society's well-being, to the extent that it could be used ethically to persuade an audience even if the information being presented was not entirely true. This suggests that Aristotle recognized the power of persuasive communication and its ability to shape public opinion. It also highlights the importance of balancing the ethical responsibility of persuasion with the overall health and functioning of society.

According to Bivins, being legal does not necessarily mean being ethical. There are instances where something may be legal but still considered unethical. Laws are based on society's moral beliefs, but they are not always a perfect reflection of what is considered ethical. Therefore, being legal and being ethical are not always synonymous.

According to Bivins, the media cannot clearly operate under a proscription of "do no harm."

The correct answer suggests that Bivins would say that the ethics of care should not be embraced by communicators because the media are based on objectivity and loyalty to clients. This implies that Bivins believes that the media should prioritize these values over the ethics of care when it comes to communication.

According to the given statement, "Lying is a form of coercion according to Sissela Bok," the correct answer is that this statement is false. The explanation for this is that Sissela Bok actually argues the opposite, stating that lying is not a form of coercion but rather a violation of trust and integrity.

According to Bivins, ambiguity in both advertising and public relations is usually intentional.

According to Bivins, it is ethically problematic for a ghostwriter to distort a communicator's character and sentiment. This means that if a ghostwriter alters the words or ideas of the person they are writing for, it is considered unethical. The communicator's character and sentiment should be accurately represented, and any distortion of this is seen as ethically wrong.

According to Bivins, emotional appeals are only unethical if they hide the true objective of the message: to persuade. This means that it is acceptable to use emotional appeals as long as the intention is made clear. Bivins does not suggest that emotional appeals are most often associated with information or that arguments based in reason or logic are considered unethical. Additionally, there is no mention of advertisements for parity products being based on logical appeals.

Bivins disagrees with the statement that even if harm is done in the service of a greater good, it is not an acceptable side effect. This suggests that Bivins believes that sometimes, harm can be justified if it is in pursuit of a greater good.

According to Bivins, deception in the name of the public's right to know is not unquestionably ethical because of its higher purpose. This means that the statement is false. Bivins believes that the autonomy of other persons is not respected when they are deceived, and persuasion is ethical while manipulation is not. Additionally, Bivins suggests that the motives of news organizations can be questioned when they claim to be acting on behalf of the public due to their bottom-line interests.

According to Bivins, it is not ethically acceptable to violate client confidentiality, even if the client's actions could potentially harm the reputation and credibility of the communications professional. This means that Bivins believes that maintaining client confidentiality is of utmost importance, regardless of the potential negative consequences for the professional.

The answer suggests that Bivins does not take the position that journalists, as well as PR and advertising professionals, should be expected to operate within a parameter of avoiding unnecessary harm.

Bivins disagrees with the statement that the principle of legal moralism is the most defensible of the liberty-limiting principles.

The statement that "A goal of mutual understanding is as appropriate for advertising as it is for public relations" is false, according to Bivins. Bivins argues that while public relations focuses on building relationships and mutual understanding between an organization and its publics, advertising is primarily concerned with promoting and selling products or services. Advertising does not necessarily aim to foster mutual understanding, but rather to persuade and influence consumers. Therefore, Bivins suggests that the goal of mutual understanding is not as relevant or appropriate for advertising as it is for public relations.

The correct answer suggests that assuming the ultimate determinant for the advocate's behavior is what the client wants is not a suggestion for mitigating harm in advertising and public relations. This means that the advocate should not solely prioritize the client's desires over ethical considerations and potential harm to third parties. Instead, they should act legally, consider ethical ramifications, evaluate potential clients, and act in the interest of acceptable consequences on third parties.

According to Bivins, compassion, civility, and common courtesies are fostered by the cocooned environment of journalism. This suggests that journalists are encouraged to prioritize these values in their professional conduct.