Public Relations

1. Are public relations activities like image consulting ethical? Explain.

I feel like image consulting can be both ethical and unethical depending on the situation.  If someone has been wrongly viewed by the public eye and they hire someone to improve the situation and correct the wrong views, then I feel like it is ethical. But if someone has done something terrible and is just trying to make themselves look better by covering up their past with an image consultant, then I feel like it is unethical.  For example, if someone like OJ Simpson were to have an image consultant to make himself look better than I feel like that would be unethical.  But if someone like Britney Spears who did no harm to anyone else, but was going through psychological issues has an image consultant then I feel like it is ethical.  

 

2. Showman P. T. Barnum epitomized 19^th-century press agentry with exaggerated claims such as those about Tom Thumb and Jenny Lind. Do such promotional methods exist today? Are there examples?

 I feel like everything in our media today is exaggerated, maybe not to the extent of P.T. Barnum’s success with people, but I feel like everything is stretched.  Models are airbrushed to make themselves appear more beautiful.  Weight lifters in magazines appea to be stronger than in real life, everything is just bigger and better than normal people.  One thing that I feel is very exaggerated personally, is Water Parks and Theme Parks.  On the commercials you see people having endless amounts of fun, friends, and entertainment.  But in reality, when arriving at one of these parks you find yourself overpaying for the tickets, standing in what seems to be endless lines, and paying way too much for cheap food.  This is something that does not even apply to most people, but I have felt much disappointment as a child after actually going to these kind of Parks.