PRSA 2011 Ethics Month Activities

September is Ethics Awareness Month at PRSA. Based on PRSA’s Code of Ethics, Ethics Awareness Month seeks to inform and educate the public relations profession about ongoing issues and concerns regarding PR ethics. Brush up on your ethics knowledge with PRSA's ethics resources, and read commentary on ethical standards in PR here.

Below is an archive of PRSA's 2011 Ethics Awareness Month activities. You can continue the focus on ethics awareness in public relations by using the Twitter hashtag #PRethics, writing blog posts and other commentary focusing on the ethical value of public relations and helping to educate your clients, employers and colleagues on public relations' ethical tenets.

Blog Posts

• Sept. 1: State of Ethics in PR
• Sept. 7: Shared Values — A More Sustainable Approach to CSR
• Sept. 12: Challenges of Maintaining Ethical PR Standards
• Sept. 13: The Ethical Perils of Paying for Positive Media Coverage
• Sept. 15: Brothers In Ethical Arms: PR and Journalism
• Sept. 19: The Role of an Ethics Officer in a PR Agency
• Sept. 21: Why Public Relations Needs a Global Ethics Focus
• Sept. 22: PRSA Takes Stance on Responsible Online Marcomms | Presentation
• Sept. 26: Does Plagiarism Cost Anything If You Don’t Get Caught?

Commentary

• PRSA: Global PR Industry Must Condemn Covert Client Services (PRWeek Letter to the Editor)
• "Time to Set Record Straight on PR's Ethical Backbone" (PRNewser Op-Ed)

Tweet Chats (hashtag: #PRethics)

• Chat #1: State of Ethics in PR | Transcript (PDF) | Recap Blog Post
• Chat #2: Maintaining PR’s Ethical Standards | Transcript (PDF) | Recap Blog Post
• Chat #3: Fighting the Plagiarism Trend in PR | Transcript (PDF) | Recap Blog Post

Ethics Quiz

Test your knowledge of the ethical practice of public relations by taking this 10-question quiz.

Ethics Roundtable Discussion: Rescuing Reputations At Risk

A July 2011 roundtable discussion among members of PRSA's Board of Ethics and Professional Standards (BEPS) on the state of ethics in public relations. BEPS members discussed Burson Marsteller’s role in Facebook’s attempted smear campaign against Google, Duke Nukem’s poor PR response after receiving negative reviews and the Professional Standards Advisory No. 17 regarding student internships.

Ethics Month Webinar | Presentation | On-demand Webinar | Webinar Recap

• "Social Media Ethics: Letting the PRSA Code of Ethics Guide Your Behavior"

  In this special Ethics Month webinar, PRSA's Board of Ethics and Professional Standards (BEPS) provided insight and training for public relations professionals on social media ethics and how the PRSA Code of Ethics can help determine the proper course of action and protect you and your clients' reputation and credibility. Current examples of unethical practices in social media were examined. BEPS members also provided guidance on how public relations professionals can ensure their social-media campaigns uphold the ethical standards of the profession.