Comments on: “Cohen: we can’t lie.” | PRSA is prssd off.

By: Michael Tangeman

Michael Tangeman — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:13:48 +0000

First, Leo’s comment that “The very idea that someone representing today’s media has the moral authority to call anyone else unethical or dishonest is a real stretch” … is just outrageous. I know many very ethical journalists, whose sincerity and dedication to ethics in their work is unquestionable. Unfortunately, their profession has been tarnished in recent years by unethical practices of a relative few.

That, by the way, is why these ethical lapses are “news” … because they are unusual. If all journalists were unethical all the time, when a journalist invents a source or quote, it would be “dog bites man” … as in, “so what! we all know that happens all the time!” That would not be news …

In public relations, there are many ethical and honest and sincere people, who unfortunately are associated in broad brush strokes with those who are unethical and dishonest.

That said, in both journalism and PR, there is what I believe to be an inexcusable inability or unwillingness of the community of professionals to adequately police itself and enforce the codes of ethics of either the Society of Professional Journalists (Sigma Delta Chi) or the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

I am not a PRSA member, in part because I am in disagreement with the October 2000 decision of the PRSA to drop the enforcement provisions that had been in place since 1959 in its code of ethics, relying instead on the personal commitment of members to uphold professional standards.

Too hard to enforce, perhaps, but with no teeth in the ethics code there will always be those taking the unethical or dishonest path, be they journalists or PR folk, and besmirching the reputation of the rest. For my part, PRSA’s unability or unwillingness to put teeth into its ethics code continues to be a stumbling block to my joining the organization.

By: links for 2008-06-05 « media mindshare: news media, technology & public relations

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:37:39 +0000

[...] “Cohen: we can’t lie.” | PRSA is prssd off. Qui Diaz over at The Buzz Bin on the Scott McLellan, CBS, PRSA flap, thing … whatever. [...]

By: Murphy’s Law » PR people lying? No way…

Murphy’s Law » PR people lying? No way… — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:34:28 +0000

[...] The Buzz Bin [...]

By: QuiDiaz

QuiDiaz — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:39:09 +0000

It’s such a hairy issue, and of course a good opportunity for growth.

Leo and Richard, great points and thanks for your remarks. True that more proactive communications is needed to brand PR-at-large. That’s why PRSA was formed, but it’s an uphill battle. As Leo noted, the probing questions are just one of many steps on that ascent.

Kami, you’re post is spot on http://overtonecomm.blogspot.com/2008/06/is-pr-paid-to-lie-two-paradigms-of.html. Good fortune and personal integrity is what keeps many of us in the company of fellow servants, intermediaries, ombudsmen. How can we check and balance the other camp? Self-governing is a challenge.

By: Don’t be mad, be good « next communication

Don’t be mad, be good « next communication — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:13:42 +0000

[...] Don’t be mad, be good Posted on June 3, 2008 by Richie On Sunday, June 1, 2008 legal analyst Andrew Cohen of CBS spoke out on former White House Press Secretary, Scott McClellen’s new tell-all book. In his report, “The Flak on Flacks,” Cohen accuses PR professionals of making a living on untruths. He even calls out PRSA’s ethics. National PRSA responded. Cohen responds. And the arguing rages on. [...]

By: Kami Huyse

Kami Huyse — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:43:03 +0000

Qui; I wrote about this yesterday and made the point that there are two camps in PR, one that seeks to build long-term relationships, and the other that seeks to build quick results at any cost. That is the monster with two heads, the two paradigms of our profession.

By: Richard Becker

Richard Becker — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:49:40 +0000

Questioning someone else’s ethics without evidence is often a sign of the accuser’s own propensity toward being unethical.

By: Leo Bottary

Leo Bottary — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:53:19 +0000

The very idea that someone representing today’s media has the moral authority to call anyone else unethical or dishonest is a real stretch.

Second, I agree that asking tough, probing questions is necessary but that doesn’t take a company or a government off the hook for not being forthcoming. If you’re intentionally holding back facts that you know would fundamentally impact the way your information is received, you can’t defend yourself later by stating, “he/she didn’t ask.” Well, you can I guess, and people do. But that may be just one of the reasons for PR’s sorry reputation.