Social utility theory: guiding labeling of vnrs as ethical and effective public relations

Michelle L.M. Wood, Michelle R. Nelson, Lucy Atkinson, Julie B. Lane

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Social utility theory suggests that labeling video news release (VNR) source material is the ethical decision (Wulfemeyer & Frazier, 1992), yet the persuasion knowledge model predicts that the effectiveness of VNRs will decrease as people become aware of this PR tactic (Friestad & Wright, 1994). Our study found that positive and negative effects were heightened when subjects read about VNRs and viewed a labeled VNR in a newscast. These subjects were most likely to recognize the VNR story source and least likely to perceive the story as credible. Neither reading nor labeling affected evaluations of the VNR message or featured company.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)231-249
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of Public Relations Research
Volume20
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008

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