Discussion Questions
Chapter 4
Publics and Public Opinion
1. What do you think when you hear the word public? What about stakeholder?
Which term do you think best fits the public relations function, and why?
2. How do you define public opinion? Can you think of ways your opinion has been
formed around certain issues? What about the opinions of your friends? How
many publics do you belong to?
3. Think of three or four publics/stakeholders at your university. What are the best
ways to communicate with each? Which medium is best for reaching them? What
else influences their opinions?
4. How do you think culture could affect an opinion of a public? How about gender?
Race? Ethnicity? Religion/Faith?
5. How much influence do you think public relations practitioners have on public
opinion? Defend your answer with examples.