This week there were some really interesting stories on PR Ethics from the ABCs of Ethics to Astroturfing, improper brand association and what to do when you don’t have time to think. (Hint: make the time).
Mark McClennan, APR, Fellow PRSA
Mark W. McClennan, APR, Fellow PRSA, is the general manager of C+C's Boston office. C+C is a communications agency all about the good and purpose-driven brands. He has more than 20 years of tech and fintech agency experience, served as the 2016 National Chair of PRSA, drove the creation of the PRSA Ethics App and is the host of EthicalVoices.com
Cedric F. Brown, APR, an independent consultant who uses digital strategy to produce equitable outcomes, discusses:
1) What to do when you see racist behavior at work
2) Why hiring diverse junior talent isn’t enough
3) Why we can’t just look forward
There were a wide variety of ethics topics this week – from a new roboethics advisor to how to build a speak up culture and which countries most commonly report unethical behavior. Then there were the meta-ethics questions about is PR inherently unethical and is it ethical to ask a reporter questions in advance
Perry Headrick, the founder of Crackle PR, discusses a number of important ethical issues including:
1)What should you do when you don’t believe in your client?
2) Why we need to fight sensationalism
3) The need for greater diversity in public relations
February is Global Ethics month – where many communication associations come together to provide insight, guidance and content. They will be using the hashtag #ethicsmatter. In addition to this, interesting articles dealt with internal communications, the gig economy and LEGO.
Eric Berman, an innovative results-focused communications director discusses a number of important issues, including:
1) What should you do when you are asked to promote vaporware?
2) How can you practice ethical measurement?
3) Why you should always look at both sides of the data
This week in public relations ethics there was an eclectic collection of topics of interest. Topics range from a first-ever ban on shadow lobbying, to the proper application of ethos and pathos, and advice on setting up an EAB. I also loved a story of ethics in action and how a former PR pro is helping ethical manufacturers in the fashion industry.
Adam Blacker, the Vice President of Insights and Alliances at Apptopia, discusses a number of important data ethics issues for public relations professionals, including:
1) When to ethically pass on a media opportunity
2) Why you need to think of the long game when it comes to data
3) How to decide if you have enough data for an accurate pitch
4) The ethics of data collection
This week in PR Ethics there were a number of interesting stories – from should President Trump’s PR people ever get jobs again to privacy and fertility and the importance of diversity.
Sabrina Ram, the founder and president of Blu Lotus discusses:
1) What to do when your boss asks you to do something uncomfortable
2) Why we need to stop putting profit over ethics
3) The need for accountability
4) Just because you are good at something doesn’t mean you have to do it