PR facts & stats

Question 1

In business and communications, what does "PR" stand for?

Accepted Answer

Public relations. PR stands for public relations: managing how an organization communicates with the public and the media.

Question 2

A news story written in the "inverted pyramid" style puts what first?

Accepted Answer

The most important information. The inverted pyramid leads with the most important facts, then adds supporting details in decreasing order of importance.

Question 3

Edward Bernays, often called a father of public relations, was a nephew of which famous thinker?

Accepted Answer

Sigmund Freud. Edward Bernays was a nephew of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud and drew on psychology in his public relations work.

Question 4

In a press release, what is the "boilerplate"?

Accepted Answer

The standard "About" paragraph describing the organization. The boilerplate is a short, reusable paragraph near the end of a release that describes the organization.

Question 5

Which symbol is traditionally placed at the end of a press release to show it is finished?

Accepted Answer

###. Press releases traditionally end with ### (or -30-) centered below the text to signal the end of the release.

Question 6

Under AP style, how are most numbers written in general text?

Accepted Answer

Spell out one through nine; use figures for 10 and up. The Associated Press Stylebook generally spells out whole numbers one through nine and uses figures for 10 and above.

Question 7

Under AP style, which month is never abbreviated, even with a specific date?

Accepted Answer

May. AP style abbreviates Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. with dates, but always spells out March, April, May, June and July.

PR facts & stats

The basics