As a source of news and information, public relations
professionals are charged with upholding the same strict code of ethics as
other journalists. An organizations credibility
is only as strong as its commitment to ethical standards. There for it is the responsibility of every leader
to set ethical standards and enforce them, especially in the realm of public
relations communication.
Ethics, fundamentally, come from the top down. The organizations culture of what is
acceptable is a reflection of its leadership.
The community alone will not enforce these standards. The art of journalism is too competitive for
that. Credibility is fragile; one slight,
one misstep and you could tarnish your company’s, your team’s, and your own reputation
for decades. The following
recommendations will help you succeed in your commitment to ethics.
Establish a track record of ethical behavior is essential to
enforcing ethical practices. That starts
with holding people that work for you accountable, holding those that work with
you accountable, and creating an environment where ethical practices are applauded.
There should also be a mode to address lapses,
in which others feel safe to speak to any topic with contemplation and
resolution in mind, preferably before information is communicated to the general
public.
Many companies are now participating in the annual EthicsMonth, generally celebrated in March every year. This is a perfect opportunity to rectify your
organizations' commitment and address any cultural issues inside your
organization that may need tuning.
Also, publish your commitment to ethical practices in a
place that is easily accessible reassuring the public of your pledge. It also serves as a reminder to those in your
ranks that they are accountable to that commitment. And allows for you to be open to public scrutiny,
should you fall short. Remind those
around you what the possible effects of undermining the overall commitment.
According to a job description of paladinstaff.com, public relation
managers not only “create a public image but they are charged with maintaining
it”. One laps in judgement can stick
with you for your entire professional career.
This responsibility falls on your shoulders.
“With great power, comes great responsibility”.
-Uncle
Ben, Marvel Comics
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James, you're right that ethics typically flow top down in a company. I'd imagine it's easier to practice good ethics in a smaller company since employees are closer to those at the top. I wonder how big business is able to get all their employees on the same page.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it is the responsibility of the employer to set and enforce examples of what acceptable ethics in their workplace look like. Also, I feel it is the responsibility of all the employees to keep each other in check.
ReplyDeleteHello, James!
ReplyDeleteI agree that a companies' culture and ethics start from the leaders. It is important that the leaders first agree upon and understand the culture and ethics they set in place for their company, then are able to put them in practice. After the leaders do that, it is vital that they are able to set understandable expectations for their employees to follow. This will help keep the companies' culture and ethics in check.
Olivia Gauding
og198415@ohio.edu
Hey James,
ReplyDeleteYou did a wonderful job with your blog format. Super impressed. I am really glad you chose this as your blog because I find it pretty impactful. company culture is such a huge deal now a days. If I don't like the company culture, I would not work for them. It can be a game changer for many people!