The Public Relations Blog

In this episode, Mark McClennan, 2016 PRSA National Chair and host of EthicalVoices, shares his expertise on ethics. Mark and On Top of PR host Jason Mudd, APR, discuss ethics in public relations, ethical failures, advice for dealing with ethical dilemmas, why people are making unethical decisions, how to have a difficult conversation with an unethical person, and how to encourage ethical responsibility in your company.

Tune in to learn more about ethics in PR and your company.

Disclose business relationships you have with content you’re promoting to stay out of trouble.

The internet is filled with all sorts of ways to advertise groups and companies. From quick social media posts to long-term influencer campaigns, there are many ways to tell the world about a company or service you like. At some point, you might feel like promoting brands and companies you work with. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s important that you disclose any business relationships you have with the business or group you’re promoting while doing so.

Ghostwriting is a commonplace practice in public relations and can be found everywhere, from your favorite books to the most notable speeches. But what exactly is ghostwriting?

It may be easier to start with what ghostwriting isn’t. Ghostwriting isn’t plagiarism. Plagiarism is the theft of original work with no attribution or permission given by the original author. Plagiarism is a one-route selfish and unethical act of theft, whereas ghostwriting drives down a two-way road of collaboration. 

How to properly use these location-specific digital techniques

Digital marketing is a tricky domain with plenty of jargon that can leave you scratching your head. Take, for example, geofencing and geotargeting. Although they sound similar, these location-based strategies are quite different. 

Learning the difference between geofencing and geotargeting can significantly enhance your overall digital marketing efforts and your ROI. 

How do we ensure that communication pros abide by their codes of ethics?

Both the journalism and public relations industries have always struggled with negative reputations. People have been calling PR practitioners “spin doctors” for decades, and, as the era of fake news fell upon us, it changed the face of journalism. Despite unfortunate widespread beliefs, both PR pros and journalists follow strict codes of ethics in their work.

Apply these methods to your PR and marketing materials

When you hire a public relations firm, you trust its members to make ethical decisions and use best practices in all stages of communication with your audiences. Persuasive communication methods work to change your audience’s awareness, attitude, or behavior. When working to persuade someone, whether it’s to attend, purchase, visit, follow, or donate, apply the T.A.R.E.S. test or the duty-based method to ensure ethical best practices. Read our post “3 golden rules of PR in 2018” to dive deeper into which ethical standards are trending this year.

How to be an ethical public relations professional

Some people think of public relations professionals as manipulators of public perceptions. Sadly, some individuals view PR strategies as tools to trick people into doing something. PR professionals are often accused of distorting reality and spreading propaganda. How do you avoid ethical accusations in your PR practice? Here are three rules to remember to remain ethical as a PR practitioner.

How to stay ethical in the digital marketing world

Ethics in public relations is critical. In today’s digital world, it’s so easy to reach a broad audience; you can influence consumers’ behavior and obtain useful information about them. You can use various marketing and PR strategies to convert consumers. This makes them very vulnerable to scams and deception.

How to build lasting relationships with thought leaders in your industry using ethical standards

Maintaining business relationships with influencers in your niche is a great way to deliver your message to your target audience and convert prospects into loyal customers. But no business relationship will last long without an ethical foundation. How do you build relationships with thought leaders in your niche ethically?

Practicing ethical public relations is a key step to building your business credibility and long-term successful relations with your target audience. However, ethical concerns do not extend only to the implementation of your PR efforts, but also to the measuring and representing of your PR success. Here are the top five ethical concerns for measuring your PR efforts: