Problem with PR Course Case Study

[Cypress]

I am taking a course on-line through the state University in Public Relations. It's part of a Certificate in Journalism Program. This is my 3d course. I am supposed to answer a question about communication audits. I am struggling to understand what that is. The text book lists a case study for an Alan Louis General Hospital. An administrator is trying to figure out how to assess the public perception of the institution and what to do about it. Basically, how are they doing and how to fill beds.

Well, using my journalists training, I thought something was odd about the case study and decided to check it out. It appears to be bogus. There is no Alan Louis General. There are no competing hospitals as mentioned. The case study can be found on-line. It appears to have no source. What the heck is this? PR teaches us to be, above all, truthful. A rule of thumb is to be upfront as often as possible. So, in trying to explain communication audits, I wanted to use the case study but it's phony. The author of the book we are using as part of the course included a fake case study. So, what else isn't credible! That's also a rule of thumb. Is it credible?

Is that common? A case study can be false? None of this activity ever happened? What's the answer to the instructors question.

[bae]

In business courses, I found bogus case studies quite commonly used to illustrate particular points.

[Tybee]

I don't know anything about journalism, but in psychology and social work courses, case studies are often invented--they are fictional in nature. Could this be the case in your field?

[ToomuchStuff]

PR teaches us to be, above all, truthful.


ROFLMAO, when I realized this wasn't in the politics section. I don't know where you got that false notion.:laff:

[Cypress]

What does ROFLMAO mean? I have struggled with the PR course to be sure. I cannot figure out the difference between targeted marketing, TQM, communications and PR. It's kind of all the same. Sometimes the language in the text goes way over my head and I am stuck trying to understand.

Seriously here are the guides to ethics in PR. I posted these on my PC to use as a checklist on what I am doing.

Ethical Guidelines for social media
- Be fair and prudent
- Avoid Deception
- Maintain dignity & respect
- Eschew secrecy
- Is it reversible?
- Be transparent
- Clearly identify
- Rational analysis
- Emphasize clarity
- Disclose
- Verify sources & dates
- Establish responsibility
- Examine intention
- Encourage the good
- Consistency builds trust

[Zoe Girl]

I am with the others, is this just part of the course and that is why it is made up? I know that PR is not the same as advertising so we may expect more truth, so I wouldn't think that they would do this on purpose to set you up. I would just tell the instructor you were doing more research and didn't find the company or study to get more information to see what they say.

[razz]

Piero Barone video was lovely to watch and hear. Thank you. I really must make an effort to watch and search for more Youtube on other topics.

Cypress, as others have mentioned, the situations usually are fabricated in textbooks in medical situations, political, legal, etc. Often, it is a protection from future liability issues for statements made in ink. Imagine the consternation over the number of cases/situations that have later resulted in wrongful conviction and dismissals if they had earlier been in textbooks or digitally provided.

[Cypress]

Piero Barone video was lovely to watch and hear. Thank you. I really must make an effort to watch and search for more Youtube on other topics.

Cypress, as others have mentioned, the situations usually are fabricated in textbooks in medical situations, political, legal, etc. Often, it is a protection from future liability issues for statements made in ink. Imagine the consternation over the number of cases/situations that have later resulted in wrongful conviction and dismissals if they had earlier been in textbooks or digitally provided.

You read my blog! Grazie tante.

Okay, I didn't realize case studies could be fictitious to demonstrate the topic. Ecco finito - That's done :)

[Tammy]

Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off = ROTFLMAO