Becoming a
good public relations practitioner starts with respecting and taking into
considerations the ethics of being a good public relations practitioner.
Every public relations
organisation has a code of ethics which the members are expected to
abide. The primary objective of this code of ethics is to form guidelines to educate members on how they
should conduct themselves in their professional lives. The truth lies, ethics are really troubling PR professionals and consistent violation has been of a matter
of debate for the past years. Real ethical behaviors are expensive, and that’s
where the PR industry’s ethical dilemma originates. I personally think that all public relations firms routinely
engage in unethical practices and they don’t do that because they are evil
people but they do it because their wealthy clients have problems and cleaning
up their image is often easier and cheaper than cleaning up their mess.
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| Source : Ethics |
Withholding
information is common amongst PR professionals and is perhaps one of the most greatest
malpractice of the industry and it will led to the public concluding that the
company is hiding something.
The question is, how long a company can withhold information
from the public?. The longer an organisation withhold information is
the more people start speculating and guessing and that’s the more a company
starts to lose credibility.
I understand
that sometimes PR professionals withhold information in order for them to
investigate and get clarity on certain issues but how long they will withhold
information and the damage that will be caused in the meantime is what will
determine the outcome of that crisis.
Do you think
withholding of information by PR professionals is a good practice of PR: is it
ethical or unethical? Lets hear your opinion on this matter.
I agree with you jackie, ethics in the workplace are the best tools for making sure that employees adhere to the code of conduct and always being honest.
ReplyDeleteThat is true ,so that means it is up to the public relations practitioners to decide whether they stay ethical or what because at the end it affects a brand.
DeleteWithholding information from the public is bad on its own, needless to say it's tarnishing the brand, because, what if the information gets to the ears of the public by default-- what are they going to think about your company at the end of the day? Misleading!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Mr Msimango that means public relations practitioners have to always be ethical, whether there is crisis or no crisis they have to be professional.
DeleteI personaly think that public relations practitioners should not hide anything from their publics because it is going to seem unethical if the informations leaks, it is going to seem as if like they were hiding something or maybe they lied about something. Rather tell people what is going on, instead of saying 'no comment' say 'we are working on the matter, and investigations are...' Give them somthing to work with but do not lie to them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on that point because a good public relations practitioner is someone who can handle a crisis by following the correct steps at the same time abiding by the code of conduct of Public Relations while in practice.
DeleteWithholding information in the practice of PR is a matter of debate I won't say is good or bad iether.Depending on the matter at hand results in that PRP of that organisation dealing with it.For example the BP petrol incident.Much was not said in relation to that issue merely because BP was protecting their organisation.In answering your question I won't say is ethical or unethical it all depends on the viewer of that sitiuation.It could be the public or other organisations.
ReplyDeleteI get what you saying Mr Letabola but I personally think that as a public relations practitioner one has to always take into considerations the code of conduct of the practice of PR because the PR activities of a brand can make or destroy a brand.
DeleteI hear all your stance's about the ethical part of a public relations practitioners. Personally speaking i see these practitioners just doing their jobs, hence you must remember that the PRP works under the top management which sometimes, they force then to engage themselvs to unethical practices.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on that and that happens because the management does not understand the role of PRP;s in their organisation , so it needs the public relations practitioners to train and educate their management about the damages that will happen if an organisation is engaged in unethical activities.
DeleteEvery public relations practitioner has to be transparent, that is what we are being taught on daily basis, withholding of information is wrong, but at the same time what the public doesn’t know won’t kill them. This goes way back and is dependent on the employees’ loyalty, if at all top management treats its stuff the way it’s supposed to, no organisation’s skeletons will be unveiled in any organization’s closet. Recall that public relations practitioners do not make the shots they follow orders set by top management, I have a strong belief that many PRP’s wouldn’t have made it without a sin, but truth remains that withholding information is unethical in our profession.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on that point , that means managers in organisations has to be aware of the danger of withholding information
DeleteI don't think its a good practice at all, because practitioners are the voices of organizations and pr is all about transparency.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on that point , public relations practitioners must always be professional and do what is expected of them in the field.
Deleteas far my concern, it depend on what kind of information does the PR practitioner is holding. if it involves the public i think they have a right to know. and to remind you there is nothing called bad publicity so even if the information is bad the public must know. the organization must let the PR practitioner to decide on what information goes out, for example information concerning staff politics it must be within the organization not public.
ReplyDeleteNice one mr but remember that the public forms part of the stakeholders which keeps the organisation in existence so they deserve to know any information about the organisation because they can make or destroy a brand through word of mouse.
Deletenot to sound like unethical but is it an obligation for an organisation to disclose all the information to the public even if it will hurt the organisation's image?
ReplyDeleteI personally it is because that will ensure the smooth running relationship between the public and the organisation.
Deletei think it depends on what kind of organization is that information being withheld. but my point still be this that not all information is supposed to known by public unless if its NGO
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that not all information is supposed to be known by the public but it depends on the situation which a company find itself in, you cannot withhold information when there is crisis.
DeleteAs an upcoming public relations practitioner myself i do not think it is good to withhold information plus too as a professional carreer that you wish to persue and make end meets with i think its a no no no because that can destroy you and the image of the company when the truth comes because even in reality outside carrerwise secrets are not good, as a professional prp if you not about what you are to say or withhold, it is just better to verify your facts first then get back to the public or stakeholders or whatever people you dealing with at that time with an authentic and genuine truth...and thats what i know about public relations ethically.!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on that Mr that means that one has to always have verifiable facts before he/she can try to communicate with the public instead of withholding information to the public.
DeleteI think Public Relations Ethics is not withholding information a good practice of public relations, because think about this if there were no ethics people would do and say what they want all in the name of because they can whereas on the other hand when you know that you have a code to follow the you will coordinate yourself professionally all the time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on that , that means ethics plays an important role in the practice of PR.
Deleteethics are important in PR and withholding information would be considered as unethical.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with you on that point ,the PR field needs individuals who are committed and dedicated to their duties.
DeleteTrue! I also believe that as an individual, you should also have ethical principles that would prevent you from acting unethically in the position you are in.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on that it differs from individual to individual.
Deleteits true mfundise organisation must have code of ethical and public relations practitioners need abide by it.public relatins practitioners should know when to dislose information to public as this might create bad publicity.public relations need to create awareness not to damage the name of companies.
ReplyDeleteIt is always public relations practitioners who have to maintain the organisation image and identity, so it needs them to communicate effectively with their target audience.
DeleteSometime you can be unethical without knowing it or top management drag you in their shoes, my point is being ehical at all times is positive however at certain times you don't have a clean choice.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is that as a public relations practitioner one has to communicate with the management and tell them the dangers of being unethical in the line of business.
Deletethe issue of ethics is very debated maybe because what is ethicsl to you may not be ethical to me, but in terms of witholding important information that should be of public knowledge that I do not agree with
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on that.
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