In June 2010, President Obama went on NBC's Today show to discuss the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. During the interview, the president told host Matt Lauer he was holding discussions with BP executives so he would know "whose [obscenity] to kick." In the following days, there was much discussion and debate in the media over the use of obscenity in that situation. What does this controversy demonstrate with regard to the communication decisions of the president and other high-ranking officials?

A. It is important to communicate appropriately for the social and cultural context.
B. A public figure should always be honest about his or her opinions.
C. It is important to communicate effectively for the Today show audience.
D. Communication should be objective, not emotional.


Answer: A

Communication & Mass Media

You might also like to view...

A __________ includes numbers or words that signal the listener of the speaker's place in the speech

Fill in the blanks with correct word

Communication & Mass Media

Using the topic of gun control, explain the difference between a speech to convince and a speech to

actuate. Write a specific purpose statement for each type of speech. What will be an ideal response?

Communication & Mass Media

Which type of media generates larger audiences for a particular program or event than any other single media?

a) Broadcast b) Online c) Print d) Earned

Communication & Mass Media

When waiting to hear your university president speak for the first time you think to yourself “this is sure to be boring.” Your expectation that the president’s speech would be boring is a product of ______.

a. transaction-based credibility b. dynamism c. initial credibility d. trustworthiness

Communication & Mass Media