Public Relations: Making Ethics a Priority

Bennett Snyder

bs381219@ohio.edu

The theme for this class, pertaining to myself, has been all about learning new things. Obviously, that's what classes are for, but I do not mind elaborating at all. I was a normal, young, inexperienced sports writer before this class. Now, I am learning all about topics that will be crucial in my job search in years to come. I've learned to get both sides of a story, now, I'm learning to see both sides of a newsroom. 

Ethics isn't just a priority for writers; Public Relations departments are still nailed with ethical dilemmas day in and day out as well. Marlene Neill, assistant professor at Baylor University, shares her perspective as one of the top ethics researchers in the United States: "I think it is important to have the courage and just be honest about your concerns". 

Source: jhmgroup.in 

It may sound cliche, but honesty is simply the best policy. Having honest, real, transparent conversations in a newsroom will lead to having the most well-rounded coverage on a topic. Looking back on Marlene Neill, ethics is ranked among the top three qualities in employers when searching for a new employee. Well, not to state the obvious, it's very difficult to be ethical without being honest. 

As in any job we may have in our careers, pressure will come along with it. Situations will pop up where we may feel like our hand is being dealt for us. We might feel pressure to lie from authority figures, be backed into a corner unable to see the truth or struggle with true confidentiality. Regardless of what we may face in our future, the basics of ethics in not just the PR department, but everywhere, is that honesty will always be your best policy. 

One of the best ways, as shared by PRSA, is to hold yourself, and others, accountable for their actions. Being accountable must always start with yourself, especially in public relations. Our job is to, quite literally, deal with the public. Being completely transparent with the public is scary at times, heck, it might even put our jobs on the line. Sometimes it might seem easier to tell a white lie, or simply just to bend the truth, but as ethical public relations workers, that is unacceptable. Finding ways around a situation negates the true reward for facing a challenge. Being able to accept a challenging task, and completing it, is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world. Although public relations is far out of my comfort zone, I now know ethics is the basics behind a successful career in that field.