Ethics in Public Relations: A Guide to Best Practice

While ethical practice in any profession is guided by timeless philosophical perspectives, ongoing developments in technology, social media, and social contexts offer new challenges, especially in the field of public relations (PR).  Ethical questions and dilemmas are inherent to public relations, and it is essential that practitioners act ethically.  Public relations professor Patricia J. Parsons explores the key ethical concerns present in the PR world today and offers practical tips and guidance in this updated third edition of Ethics in Public Relations.

The book covers practicing respect and morality, authorship, conflict of interest, PR and the corporate ethics program, moonlighting, and the impact of whistleblowing.  Additionally, there is a new section on sexual harassment, new chapters on social media, ethics in relation to blogger engagement, the development of internal organization image, and extended organizational reputation, and a completely revised section on leadership in PR.

ISBN-13: 9780749477264

Media Type: Paperback

Publisher: Kogan Page - Ltd.

Publication Date: 04-26-2016

Pages: 192

Product Dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

Series: PR in Practice

Patricia J Parsons APR, FCPRS spent 26 years as a faculty member and former chairman in the Department of Communication Studies at Mount Saint Vincent Universityin Halifax, Canada retiring recently as a full Professor. Her research, writing and teaching focused on public relations ethics and strategy, and healthcare communication. She is the author of a dozen books and numerous papers for the professional and lay press. She is accredited in public relations and is a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society's College of Fellows. Prof. Parsons lives in Toronto and can be reached via email at ethicsinpr@gmail.com or via Twitter @ethicsinpr.

Table of Contents

* Section - PART 1: What Lies Beneath ** Chapter - 01: Before we begin: New profession... or one of the oldest? ** Chapter - 02: Lies, truth and honesty: their role in PR practice ** Chapter - 03: Truth, trust and the virtue of being ‘good’. ** Chapter - 04: Whose rights are right? ** Chapter - 05: The trouble with rules ** Chapter - 06: Utilitarianism: Right acts and wrong reasons * Section - PART 2: Ethics and the Practitioner ** Chapter - 07: Your moral development: Cultivating respect and humility ** Chapter - 08: Codes of ethics: The good, the bad and the (almost) ugly ** Chapter - 09: Conflicts of Interest: Sex and other relationship issues ** Chapter - 10: (Very) personal ethical decisions: Whistle-blowing and moonlighting * Section - PART 3: Strategies and Dilemmas ** Chapter - 11: Public Relations ethics and traditional media ** Chapter - 12: Public Relations ethics and social media ** Chapter - 13: Persuasion propaganda and advocacy: The ethics of influence ** Chapter - 14: Supporting ‘good causes’: bad ethics or bad taste? ** Chapter - 15: Deceptive authorship: Ghost-writing and plagiarism * Section - Part 4: Organizations, Ethics and PR ** Chapter - 16: Making decisions: The true reality of everyday ethics ** Chapter - 17: PR and the corporate ethics programme ** Chapter - 18: The future of ethical PR: education and leadership ** Chapter - 19: Appendix 1: For your bookshelf ** Chapter - 20: Appendix 2: Chartered Institute of PR Code of Conduct ** Chapter - 21: Appendix 3: Guidelines for the ethics audit Show More