chartered institute of public relations
chartered institute of public relations, 52 - 53, russell square, london. wc1b 4hp
the appc, chartered institute of public relations and prca produced the draft definition in collaboration .
the chartered institute of public relations is a membership - driven organisation which has a responsibility to provide professional services and embody good practice .
without doubt, the public relations industry has come a long way. testament to the industry' s progression is its professional body, the chartered institute of public relations .
© copyright 2018 public relations institute of australia (acn 85066451732). all rights reserved .
the institute of public relations first met on 10 february 1948, at the st bride institute fleet street. this was as a result of meetings in 1946 and the establishment of' a standing conference of public relations officers in november that year .
the chartered institute of public relations is the uk' s leading public relations industry professional body with 9000 members. the institute represents and serves the interests of people working in public relations in the uk and abroad. it offers access to information, advice and support, and provides networking and training opportunities through a wide variety of events, conferences and workshops .
this article was funded by the institute for public relations. i would like to thank the institute for public relations and to specifically thank president & ceo frank e. ovaitt, jr. , for his support and encouragement of ethics research .
for example, refer to the ethics codes of a few of the major public relations associations: the global alliance for public relations and communication management (urltoken), the international public relations association (ipra) code of athens (urltoken), the european public relations confederation, also endorsing the code of athens along with its own code and the code of lisbon (urltoken), the public relations institute of australia (urltoken) the public relations society of america (urltoken), the international association of business communicators (urltoken), the chartered institute of public relations (urltoken) or the arthur w. page society (urltoken) of senior - level public relations executives .
develop your skills in public relations (pr) planning and integrated communications management with the chartered institute of public relations (cipr) professional pr diploma. delivered part - time over one year, this course will boost your career and improve your decision - making and effectiveness at work .
if you feel that you haven' t reached this level of study, please take a look at the chartered institute of public relations advanced certificate, also offered by birmingham city university. or, if you feel you have already achieved this level, please take a look at the masters in public relations .
prsa certifies dit ma in public relations and ma in public affairs & political communication .
from the beginning the institute was involved in four broad areas of activity: professional practices, education, programmes and public relations. the professional practices committee was first established in 1956, leading to the institute' s adoption of its first code of professional conduct in 1963 .
“the skilled practitioner of today will become the dinosaur of tomorrow if they don’t commit to continuing professional development. the advanced certificate is a superb qualification. i recommend it unreservedly for those wanting to develop their pr skills. ” jason mackenzie, president at chartered institute of public relations
the chartered institute of public relations (cipr) is a professional body for public relations practitioners in the uk. with over 11, 000 members involved in all aspects of public relations, it is one of the largest bodies of its type in europe. the cipr advances the public relations profession in the uk by making its members accountable through a code of conduct, developing policies, representing its members and raising standards through education and training. it also operates the uk lobbying register (urltoken) .
the central purpose of this article is to provide an overview of ethics in public relations. i review the evolution of public relations ethics, the current state of practice, and the thoughts of ethicists .
lauzen, m. m. (1997). understanding the relations between public relations and issues management. journal of public relations research, 9 (1), 65 - 82 .
we represent communicators working in or supporting local public services, from councils and health authorities to regional police and ambulance authorities. we are a voice for you at a national level and within the chartered institute of public relations. if you have issues, concerns or just want to shout about your work, we are there to help you .
the cipr advances professionalism in public relations by making its members accountable to their employers and the public through a code of conduct and searchable public register, setting standards through training, qualifications, awards and the production of best practice and skills guidance, facilitating continuing professional development (cpd), and awarding chartered public relations practitioner status (chart. pr) .
from its incorporation in 1962 the ipr was recognised by the government (the board of trade) as the official representative body of public relations in britain. it was awarded chartered status by the privy council in 2005 .
the game plan of the new chartered institute of public relations (cipr) is, according to director - general colin farrington, to' get to a situation where the market will demand membership'. extra membership funds would enable the body to advance its roles of providing leadership for the industry, developing policy and raising standards through training and education .
as someone who works in communications, there were many training courses available to me, but being a member of the chartered institute of public relations (cpir) and someone who was completing their continuous development programme, i spoke to my manager and we both agreed that the cipr advance certificate would be the most appropriate course for me to complete .
wright, d. k. (1993). enforcement dilemma: voluntary nature of public relations codes. public relations review, 19 (1), 13 - 20 .
jacquie' s main research interests are: history and sociology of public relations; health and food communication; public relations in tourism, especially sports tourism; and pr in sport .
wright, d. k. (1985). can age predict the moral values of public relations practitioners? public relations review, 11 (1), 51 - 60 .
groups like the center for public integrity (urltoken) criticize the public relations industry for a lack of ethics, counting the influence of public relations and lobbying as one of the primary threats to truthful journalism. other groups like corporate watch (urltoken) are less restrained in their criticism and consider public relations firms and professionals as deliberately unethical :
wright, d. k. (1989). ethics research in public relations: an overview. public relations review, 15 (2), 3 - 5 .
leeper, k. a. (1996). public relations ethics and comunitariarianism: a preliminary investigation. public relations review, 22 (2), 163 - 179 .
pratt, c. b. (1994). research progress in public relations ethics: an overview. public relations review, 20 (3), 217 - 224 .
diversity – reflecting the diversity of our membership and the broader public relations community in our activities and dialogue .
to be at the heart of a professional and diverse public relations profession that organisations, government and the public understand and value. a profession that :
bivins, t. h. (1992). a systems model for ethical decision making in public relations. public relations review, 18 (4), 365 - 383 .
ipr presents a variety of pr education programs, pr leadership forums and conferences for public relations scholars and professionals .
this provides a general introduction to public relations as a management activity, and an understanding of communications processes in practice .
the finding that little or no ethics training or study is held by public relations practitioners with a university education is not a new concern. the commission on public relations education, a group of experts who periodically examine public relations curricula and recommend modifications, recognized the dearth of ethics study in their 2006 report (see: urltoken). the group recommended the following actions at universities and colleges offering courses or majors in public relations :
the cipr is the voice of the public relations profession, a champion of its interests and a respected partner to the broader communications community .
amid the scandal caused by the lack of honest and open communication during numerous corporate crises, such as enron (bowen & heath, 2005), and the ethical blunders of public relations firms themselves, public relations faces an identity crisis. is ethical public relations even possible? are public relations professionals really “the ‘invisible men’ who control our political debates and public opinion, twisting reality and protecting the powerful from scrutiny” as charged by p. r. watch (urltoken) and similar groups ?
others have gone on to study the cipr diploma which offers accreditation to our ma in public relations .
prsa jobcenter puts more than 2, 000 public relations, communications and marketing jobs within easy reach .
public relations is about reputation - the result of what you do, what you say and what others say about you .
chase, w. h. (1977). public issue management: the new science. public relations journal, 33, 25 - 26 .
we are the advocate and voice of the public relations profession, a champion of our professional interests, a respected partner to the broader communications community and a body that works in the public interest. we enhance the reputation and understanding of the public relations profession and the professionalism of our members through the provision of world - class structures for the practice of public relations. we do this by providing education, knowledge building and sharing, research, excellent governance, conduct and ethics .
aimed at people with some experience as pr professionals, the diploma focuses on strategic public relations and its role as an integral part of both public and private sector communications .
seib, p. , & fitzpatrick, k. (1995). public relations ethics. fort worth: harcourt brace college publishers. the work by these two authors (a professor / attorney combination) takes a legalistic look of public relations work and media relations ethics. an appendix containing the major codes of ethics in public relations is a strength of this book. although a bit dated, this book is a good historical reference and is highly focused on codes of ethics and professionalism, as well as litigation and the governmental process in public relations .
the chartered institute of public relations advanced certificate will enable you to make a real difference to your organisation, from improved effectiveness at work to enhanced decision - making skills. we are the only centre in the west midlands approved by the cipr to offer this course, which is accredited by the creative skillset and industry recognised in the uk and worldwide. the course is run part - time, allowing you to work while you study .
for authorative comment on local public service communications issues, contact the cipr local public services group .
pearson, r. (1989b). a theory of public relations ethics. unpublished doctoral dissertation, ohio university, athens .
( ipr) is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to research in, on and for public relations. we investigate
the cipr is the largest association of its kind in europe. it is a member of the european pr federation cerp (confederation europeanne des relations publiques) and a founding member of the global alliance for public relations and communications management .
kruckeberg, d. (2000). the public relations practitioner’s role in practicing strategic ethics. public relations quarterly, 45 (3), 35 - 40. kruckeberg gives a strong rationale of how the communication function should be involved in ethics, why it is essential to communicate ethically with publics, and how these elements are the cornerstones of effective public relations practice .
jacquie has published articles and book chapters on the ethics of communication, rhetoric, propaganda, diplomacy and was co - editor, with magda pieczka of critical perspectives in public relations (itbp, 1996). she currently sits on the editorial boards of prism, journal of communication management and public relations review .
© 2018, public relations society of america, inc. 120 wall street, 21st fl. new york, ny 10005 - 4024
popular with recent graduates looking to sharpen their expertise and with professionals entering the public relations field, this course will provide a thorough grounding in public relations theory and practice, making it the ideal springboard for advancing your career .
ireland’s premier professional qualification in public relations and communications, providing a detailed understanding of the theory and practice of professional communications. find out more about the qualification of choice for pr professionals
' intellectual property - why is it important to you', oct 2017 - this cpd webinar was held with ipo, chartered management institute southern and communications practitioners working in this area. thank you to all those involved and particularly to the intellectual property office (ipo). the next in the series will be held in spring .
reputation has a direct and major impact on the corporate well - being of every organisation. that is why the professionalism of public relations practitioners is so important .
every year we recognise the achievements of public relations professionals, teams and agencies through our leading awards: the excellence awards and pride awards .
qmu is the only institution outside london to teach the cipr diploma in internal communications practice, the cipr diploma in public affairs practice and the cipr professional public relations diploma .
the development is official recognition from the government that public relations plays an important and influential role in business and society .
fiona denning is a multiple graduate of birmingham city university. after graduating with her first degree, ba (hons) media and communication, fiona’s career got off to a flying start, taking responsibility for city centre communications for the west midlands police. keen to make more of her skills fiona soon returned to the university to improve her career prospects with a part - time cipr (chartered institute of public relation) postgraduate diploma. it was a commitment that certainly paid off .
bivins, t. h. (1980). ethical implications of the relationship of purpose to role and function in public relations. journal of business ethics, january, 65 - 73 .
pratt, c. b. , im, s. h. , & montague, s. n. (1994). investigating the application of deontology among u. s. public relations practitioners. journal of public relations research, 6 (4), 241 - 266 .
good stuff. i hold a master degree in public relations and i found the material very use as a pr practitioner .
the professional organization, established in 1948, for uk public relations consultancies. it is the largest such organization in europe .
pearson (1989a) explored the concept of dialogue as an ethical basis for public relations. he thought that public relations was best defined as “the management of interpersonal dialectic” (pearson, 1989b, p. 177) emphasizing the personal relationship maintenance and building functions of public relations with members of publics. an entire strain of research (ledingham & bruning, 2001, 2000) has found that relationship building functions are the most crucial aspect of public relations, and pearson’s link to the usefulness of dialogue in doing that makes perfect sense. dialogue is best seen as an ongoing process of seeking understanding and relationship, with the potential to resolve ethical dilemmas through a mutual creation of truth. kent and taylor (2002) offer an extensive list of factors to consider in engaging in the process of dialogue, and it is an invaluable resource for public relations professionals seeking to build that process into the communication of their organization .
jacquie l' etang fcipr is a lecturer and director of the msc in public relations at the university of stirling. she worked in a variety of public relations roles at the british council in the 1980s including the 50th anniversary celebrations (1984), promotional publications, staff newsletter and annual report. her first degree was in american & english history (uea); subsequently she obtained postgraduate degrees in commonwealth history (london), public relations (stirling) and social justice (stirling). her phd focused on public relations' role and evolution in british society .
heath, r. l. , & bowen, s. a. (2002). the public relations philosophy of john w. hill: bricks in the foundation of issues management. journal of public affairs, 2 (4), 230 - 246. this article makes interesting reading for anyone looking for a ‘mentor’ in their public relations career. many quotes directly from hill and his writings are examined in the context of hill’s counseling top management and his commitment to a strong ethical responsibility and advising function in public relations .
bowen, s. a. (2001, may). a theory of ethical issues management: expansion of the tenth generic principle of public relations excellence. paper presented at the meeting of the international communication association, washington .
cipr public relations centre, 52 - 53 russell square (5, 371. 41 mi) london, united kingdom wc1b 4hp
cipr awards are industry - recognised and the only professional qualifications awarded by a chartered body. whether you are entering the profession or an experienced pr practitioner, courses are offered at every level .
grunig, j. e. , & huang, y. h. (2000). from organizational effectiveness to relationship indicators: antecedents of relationships, public relations strategies, and relationship outcomes. in j. ledingham & s. bruning (eds .), public relations as relationship management: a relational approach to the study and practice of public relations (pp. 23 - 53). mahwah, nj: lawrence erlbaum associates .
the current state of ethics in public relations practice depends heavily on codes of ethics held by the major professional associations. membership in these groups is voluntary, meaning that one is not required to belong to such an association in order to practice public relations. members agree to abide by a code of ethics that is written for the entire group. some codes of ethics are written in terms that forbid a list of certain activities; other codes of ethics espouse a set of ethical principles which should be followed. whether written in positive or negative terms, most of the professional associations in public relations have a code of ethics .
grunig, j. e. (2001). two - way symmetrical public relations: past, present, and future. in r. l. heath (ed .), handbook of public relations (pp. 11 - 30). thousand oaks, ca: sage .
jones, b. l. , & chase, w. h. (1979). managing public policy issues. public relations review, 5 (2), 3 - 23 .
lobbying is a discipline within public relations where the general intention of the activity is to inform and influence public policy and law.' lobbyists' are practitioners who execute planned and sustained efforts to deliver specific objectives within this broad profile of activity .
bivins, t. h. (1989). are public relations texts covering ethics adequately? journal of mass media ethics, 4 (1), 39 - 52. this is a landmark study showing the historical data on how little attention public relations education has focused on ethics. that has changed a bit, but this study was instrumental in forcing a more attentive stance toward ethics in public relations among modern textbooks .
despite the strides made in modern public relations toward becoming ethical advisors in management, the field holds “a tarnished history” in the words of one scholar (parsons, 2004, p. 5). like any young profession, the historical development of public relations shows a progression toward more self - aware and ethical models of communication. by reviewing this development, the historically negative reputation of public relations, as well as its potential for encouraging ethical communication, we can see the maturation of the profession from one engaged in simple dissemination of information to one involved in the creation of ethical communication .
in this book the author asks a big question: how did public relations develop in britain and why? the question is answered through a broad ranging narrative which links the evolution of british public relations in the early 20th century to key political, economic, social, and technological developments. drawing on oral history interviews with more then 70 pr practitioners and extensive archival research, the book highlights some of the sociological issues relevant to a study of public relations and foregrounds the professionalisation of the occupation in the second part of the 20th century .
learning never stops and in order for you to be the best at what you do, you need to continually develop yourself. the advance certificate was my springboard for greater things and i have already held discussions with my employers about my future development opportunities, and i will soon be applying to become a chartered practitioner in public relations .
educating decision makers in the organization, specifically the ceo and dominant coalition, of the abilities if the public relations function to engage in ethical advisement by using issues management, research, relationships with publics, and conflict resolution should be one of the primary responsibilities of communication executives. most chief executives originate from financial or engineering backgrounds, and no little or nothing about the capabilities of public relations beyond media relations. so, it is the responsibility of the public relations practitioner to educate him or her about the many ways that public relations can contribute to the success of the organization, including solving and preventing ethical dilemmas. educating the ceo and other dominant coalition members in the organization is one of the primary routes through which practitioners in the iabc study said they achieved membership in the strategic decision making core. therefore, this recommendation also serves to empower the public relations function within an organization and to foster high - level career access for practitioners .
given the criticisms against codes of ethics, public relations scholars have worked to create other methods of understanding, analyzing, and managing ethical dilemmas. these approaches are based on varying schools of thought from philosophy to sociology .
there is a considerable body of evidence emerging to suggest that modern public relations practices are having a very significant deleterious impact on the democratic process … by giving vested interests the opportunity to deliberately obfuscate, deceive, and derail public debate on key issues the public relations industry reduces society’s capacity to respond effectively to key social, environmental and political challenges. (urltoken )
as students of public relations, we have been given the task to use 4 of theories, mainly; 1. systems theory 2. stakeholder theory 3. issues theory 4. excellence theory
one of the following plus 1 year' s relevant full - time employment in public relations (or related sectors, e. g. marketing, journalism) :
a senior lecturer for public relations at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, philip has significant experience as an award - winning journalist and owner of a successful pr company .
pratt, c. b. (1991). public relations: the empirical research on practitioner ethics. journal of business ethics, 10, 229 - 236 .
curtin, p. a. , & boynton, l. a. (2001). ethics in public relations: theory and practice. in r. l. heath (ed .), handbook of public relations (pp. 411 - 422). thousand oaks, ca: sage .
grunig, l. a. (1992b). toward the philosophy of public relations. in e. l. toth & r. l. heath (eds .), rhetorical and critical approaches to public relations (pp. 65 - 91). hillsdale, nj: lawrence erlbaum associates .
seib, p. , & fitzpatrick, k. (1995). public relations ethics. fort worth: harcourt brace college publishers .
bowen, s. a. (2000). a theory of ethical issues management: contributions of kantian deontology to public relations’ ethics and decision making. unpublished doctoral dissertation, university of maryland, college park, md .
this review of current, cutting - edge, and historical research in public relations ethics is worth little if public relations professionals do not implement ethical analyses in their daily practice. we can contribute to more socially responsible and credible organizations, but only if we take the steps necessary to make our voices heard in the dominant coalition. public relations professionals should be the ones to alert senior management when ethical issues arise. public relations counselors should also know the values of both internal and external publics, and use these in astute analyses and ultimate resolutions of ethical dilemmas. at any level of one’s career it is never too early or too late to implement the following guidelines :
the ability to engage in ethical reasoning in public relations is growing in demand, in responsibility, and in importance. academic research, university and continuing education, and professional practice are all attending more than ever to matters of ethics. the public relations function stands at a critical and defining juncture: whether to become an ethics counselor to top management or to remain outside the realm of the strategic decision making core. how we choose to respond to the crisis of trust among our publics will define the public relations of the future .
* if you do not have the necessary gcses or gces you may still be accepted at the discretion of the university on the basis of your professional experience (not necessarily in public relations) .
although it is true that no single person or function can be the entire “ethical conscience” of an organization, the public relations function is ideally informed to counsel top management about ethical issues. public relations professionals know the values of key publics involved with ethical dilemmas, and can conduct rigorous ethical analyses to guide the policies of their organizations, as well as in communications with publics and the news media. careful and consistent ethical analyses facilitate trust, which enhances the building and maintenance of relationships – after all, that is the ultimate purpose of the public relations function .
current research supports a historical trend of associating public relations with all things unethical – lying, spin - doctoring, and even espionage. many critics argue that there can be no ethical public relations because the practice itself is akin to manipulation and propaganda. an unfortunate belief among many journalists, policy makers, and laymen is the belief that the term ‘public relations ethics’ is an oxymoron: either an unreal possibility, or smoke and mirrors to hide deception .
in this module you will become familiar with the primary tactics used in public relations, and some of the tools used to plan and manage them in the managerial role .
grunig, j. e. (1992a). communication, public relations, and effective organizations: an overview of the book. in j. e. grunig (ed .), excellence in public relations and communication management (pp. 1 - 30). hillsdale, nj: lawrence erlbaum associates .
grunig, j. e. , & grunig, l. a. (1992). models of public relations and communication. in j. e. grunig (ed .), excellence in public relations and communication management (pp. 285 - 325). hillsdale, nj: lawrence erlbaum associates .
the aim of the cipr specialist diploma (public affairs) is to enable candidates to develop specialist knowledge and expertise in the contexts, concepts and practical tools of public affairs. this qualification put this experience into the wider context of the role of public affairs in organisations and society, how public affairs contributes to an organisation’s success, and what is expected of an ethical practitioner in the complex political environment .
this module provides an introduction to management skills and to reflective professional practice that will help you assess and develop a dynamic career in public relations .
parkinson, m. (2001). the prsa code of professional standards and member code of ethics: why they are neither professional or ethical. public relations quarterly, fall, 27 - 31 .
the central purpose of this article is to provide an overview of ethics in public relations. i review the evolution of public relations ethics, the current state of practice, and the thoughts of ethicists. definitions will be provided and key areas of evolution and debate within the field will be addressed. implications for practitioners are discussed, including the research showing that a strong sense of ethics and of how to arrive at ethical decisions can enhance the career prospects of public relations professionals. recommendations for public relations practitioners are made, including topics such as gaining access to an organization’s top decision makers, promotion to an ethical counselor role, on - the - job ethics training or ethics study, and approaches to ethical analyses. finally, practical guidelines for dealing with ethics will be offered, followed by an annotated bibliography with suggestions for further reading .
bivins, t. h. (1989). are public relations texts covering ethics adequately? journal of mass media ethics, 4 (1), 39 - 52 .
grunig, l. a. (1992a). activism: how it limits the effectiveness of organizations and how excellent public relations departments respond. in j. e. grunig (ed .), excellence in public relations and communication management (pp. 503 - 530). hillsdale, nj: lawrence erlbaum associates .
parsons, p. j. (2004). ethics in public relations: a guide to best practice. london: kogan page. this book takes a basic look at public relations ethics through a history of public relations as a professional pursuit, truth telling, trust, rights, respect, and the issue of propaganda versus persuasion. it uses many modern cases and examples to illustrate concepts, and is a good beginning overview of ethics in public relations practice. there are some brief but practical checklists and simple diagrams for helping to evaluate one’s own ethics. it is written in a conversational manner and includes many interesting or humorous examples to make it entertaining yet useful reading .
bowen, s. a. (2004). expansion of ethics as the tenth generic principle of public relations excellence: a kantian theory and model for managing ethical issues. journal of public relations research, 16 (1), 65 - 92. this article provides a deontological (duty and principle based) rationale blended with theory from public relations to result in a theory of how ethical issues management can be conducted. it is highly theoretical and academic in nature, but includes a schematic model which is useful in simplifying deontology into a flow chart approach .
the cipr has published a professional standard for lobbying, explaining the cipr code of conduct in the specific context of public affairs .
this would buy a media - relations campaign, online reputation management and the public - affairs team
working with you on a governmental level
.
members of the cipr are expected to develop and display
ethical competence
, which is where their technical and strategic abilities as a public relations professional are deployed in an ethical manner, within the framework of the cipr code of conduct .
this unit situates public relations within a strategic management framework, enabling critical and ethical examination of the role and responsibilities of the function, and senior practitioners, within a contemporary context. it considers practical challenges and conceptual underpinnings relating to public relations strategy and planning in a variety of situations and types of organisation. the importance of organisational and functional objectives is emphasised with a focus on research and analysis to support problem identification, stakeholder mapping and objective setting .
one of the biggest challenges for the industry is the general misconception about what public relations is and does. what it is about is building lasting relationships with different groups via effective two - way communication. in a business setting, it is about helping an organisation achieve certain objectives, but its function is far wider. tied to freedom of speech, public relations can provide a voice to those who wouldn' t necessarily have one – which is why true public relations does not exist anywhere other than in a democracy .
grunig, j. e. , & hunt, t. (1984). managing public relations. new york: holt, rinehart and winston .
celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the institute has developed considerably within its lifetime, although perhaps most notably in the last decade. during this time it has grown its membership to over 9, 500 individuals working across industry sectors; has approved an increasing number of pr degrees; and has developed and expanded its training courses and professional qualifications nationally and overseas. only three years ago the institute achieved charter status, recognition from government that it is the professional body to lead the industry .
4 years' relevant full - time employment in public relations (or related sectors) and 5 gcses at grade c or above, 1 of which must be in the english language .
the diploma enables you to analyse and critique a range of public relations theories and concepts, and apply them to practice. this aids your decision - making skills and effectiveness at work .
the assessment will involve producing an executive report and analysis of research findings on a topic of your choice that relates to public affairs .
iabc grant research (bowen et al. , 2006) showed that, although a large number of public relations practitioners reported that they do advise their ceo (30 %) or senior management (35 %), another 35% of public relations professionals who say they have no access to the dominant coalition of their organizations. these practitioners are implementing the strategic decisions of others rather than making their own contributions in the areas of organization strategy, issues management, or – on ethics. public relations cannot contribute to organizational effectiveness without offering input on the views of strategic publics to executive management—nor can it advise on the ethical issues and dilemmas that stand to damage organization - public relationships, diminish credibility, and tarnish reputation .
our world - class foundations aid people' s understanding of the public relations profession. we provide cipr members with education, up - to - the - minute research and a code of conduct to enhance their professionalism .
in the us, early public relations practices introduced many ethical concerns because the press agentry (j. e. grunig & hunt, 1984) approach prevalent then emphasized hyperbole, sensationalism, and often lacked truth. the so - called “father of public relations, ” edward bernays, called this time period of 1850 - 1905 “the public be damned era” (cutlip et al. , 2006). press agents were concerned with generating publicity at almost any cost, and this approach engendered the unethical reputation of modern - day public relations. ethics as a consideration entered the development of modern practice in about 1906, with prominent practitioner ivy lee’s declaration of principles. his declaration moved the practice into “the public be informed” era with his emphasis on telling the truth and providing accurate information .
grunig, j. e. , & grunig, l. a. (1996, may). implications of symmetry for a theory of ethics and social responsibility in public relations. paper presented at the meeting of the international communication association, chicago .
kruckeberg, d. (1993). universal ethics code: both possible and feasible. public relations review, 19 (1), 21 - 31 .
mcelreath, m. p. (1996). managing systematic and ethical public relations campaigns (2nd ed .). new york: brown & benchmark .
kent, m. l. , & taylor, m. (2002). toward a dialogic theory of public relations. public relations review, 28 (1), 21 - 37. this is an exemplary article for providing recommendations for opening a dialogue between organizations and publics. ethics is both an underlying assumption and discussed in the rationale for dialogue, as well as how to maintain balanced power relations once a dialogue is started .
the commission noted a need to elevate in importance “particular issues and trends in the public relations field such as ethics and transparency” (p. 43) in undergraduate education. these experts argued that an education in public relations “can provide a body of knowledge about the process of ethical decision - making that can help students not only to recognize ethical dilemmas but to use appropriate critical thinking skills to help resolve those dilemmas in a way that results in an ethical outcome” (urltoken, p. 22). public relations professionals need both experience managing ethical issues and academic study of ethics. studying ethics helps practitioners to advance professionally and to make defensible judgments in the eyes of publics. not preparing young practitioners to deal with ethics disadvantages them in their career aspirations and harms the reputation of the public relations profession itself .
pearson, r. (1989a). beyond ethical relativism in public relations: coorientation, rules, and the idea of communication symmetry. in j. e. grunig & l. a. grunig (eds .), public relations research annual (vol. 1, pp. 67 - 86). hillsdale, nj: lawrence erlbaum associates .
fitzpatrick, k. , & bronstein, c. (eds .). (2006). ethics in public relations: responsible advocacy. thousand oaks, ca: sage. this edited book contains chapters written by some of the top scholars in public relations, each addressing a different component of advocacy and if an advocacy approach is used, what would be the requirements for it to be ethical? topics include risk management, activism, strategic communication, feminism and diversity, and public affairs. chapters are heavily based in current public relations theory and research, but often include implications for practice. a more advanced text than most others, you should probably save this for reading once you have completed a few more basic books since its argumentation sometimes assumes prior knowledge of public relations ethics or research in that area .
you will be taught at one of the most established centres for education and research in the field of public relations in europe, and you will have access to our full range of specialist resources and our library which is open 24 / 7 throughout the year .
stauber, j. , & rampton, s. (1995). toxic sludge is good for you: lies, damn lies, and the public relations industry. monroe, me: common courage press. this book takes a scathing look at public relations ethics, discussing numerous scandals and transgressions. although the facts are here, they are interpreted with hyperbole. this work is useful to those seeking reasoning for why ethics should be a part of public relations to identify the problems that result when we ignore ethics .
grunig, j. e. (ed .). (1992b). excellence in public relations and communication management. hillsdale, nj: lawrence erlbaum associates .
one of the earliest public relations executives to argue for the role of acting as an ethical counsel to management was john w. hill (heath & bowen, 2002). hill had a very developed philosophy of corporate responsibility and issue management, and this recent analysis found that ethics pervaded both his work as executive counsel and his books about public relations (hill, 1958, 1963). hill’s grasp of the interaction between ethics, issues management, and “far - reaching effects of corporate policy” (hill, 1958, p. 16) made him not only one of the most successful practitioners of his century. john w. hill was a progenitor of what scholars called public relations as the “corporate conscience” (ryan & martinson, 1983, p. 22) .
martinson, d. l. (1994). enlightened self - interest fails as an ethical baseline in public relations. journal of mass media ethics, 9 (2), 100 - 108 .
will enable students to define the field and scope of public relations and its relationship with marketing, advertising, publicity, propaganda etc. students will also be able to demonstrate an understanding of the way that public relations is placed within organisations (in terms of its relative position to the dominant coalition, budget share etc .) broad introductions will be given to some specialist areas including financial / investor public relations, lobbying, marketing pr (fmcgs) sponsorship, working in - house or in a consultancy and corporate social responsibility. concepts such as relationship building, reputation management and working with publics will be illustrated .
promote the role of council and other public services communications as effective tools to engage with residents and other stakeholders .
to answer the demand for ethics training from the professional front, training in ethical decision making is being offered by some employers, universities, and professional associations. only recently have public relations scholars incorporated a substantial amount of moral philosophy into the body of knowledge we know as communication. the inclusion of this scholarly literature in our own field can powerfully extend the ethical reasoning capabilities of public relations professionals. these approaches, which are reviewed below, offer substantive ethical guidelines for analyzing dilemmas .
the uk public affairs council is an independent body that maintains a register of those engaged in lobbying and of the organisations on whose behalf they lobby .
the internet encyclopedia of philosophy explains: “the field of ethics, also called moral philosophy, involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior” (urltoken). definitions of ethics normally have in common the elements of requiring some form of systematic analysis, distinguishing right from wrong, and determining the nature of what should be valued. in the public relations discipline, ethics includes values such as honesty, openness, loyalty, fair - mindedness, respect, integrity, and forthright communication. this definition of public relations ethics goes far beyond the olden days of “flacking for space” or spinning some persuasive message, but this view is not shared by everyone .
vercic, d. , grunig, l. a. , & grunig, j. e. (1996). global and specific principles of public relations: evidence from slovenia. in h. m. culbertson & n. chen (eds .), international public relations: a comparative analysis (pp. 31 - 65). mahwah, nj: lawrence erlbaum associates .
ryan, m. , & martinson, d. l. (1983). the pr officer as corporate conscience. public relations quarterly, 28 (2), 20 - 23. ryan and martinson coined the term “public relations as corporate conscience” in this landmarrk article. this is a short article, containing some data and opinion from the authors .
the uklr, which is free of charge to search and register, provides the public with a channel to complain about the conduct of a registered lobbyist .
heath, r. l. , & cousino, k. r. (1990). issues management: end of first decade progress report. public relations review, 16 (1), 6 - 18 .
this article takes a look at public relations codes of ethics. it describes the common problems of codes of ethics and making them useful in practice. this work is useful to those seeking an alternative to a code of ethics, such as ethics statements or policies. it is also helpful for those with a code of ethics to identify the problems one should guard against .
two years' relevant full - time employment in public relations (or related sectors e. g. marketing, journalism) and 5 gcses grade 4 (c) or above, one of which must be english language .
reporters from the bureau posed as agents for the government of uzbekistan – a brutal dictatorship responsible for killings, human rights violations and child labour – and representatives of its cotton industry in a bid to discover what promises british lobbying and public relations firms were prepared to make when pitching to clients, what techniques they use, and how much of their work is open to public scrutiny .
if you wish to further your studies when you have successfully completed the cipr diploma, you may apply for a 60 - credit exemption against the 180 - credit ma in public relations .
ukpac wrote to the minister for the cabinet office matthew hancock to announce that it was winding up as of today. the ukpac was set up in 2010 after a recommendation by the public administration select committee to create a public register of lobbyists .
public relations (pr) is the way organisations, companies and individuals communicate with the public and media. a pr specialist communicates with the target audience directly or indirectly through media with an aim to create and maintain a positive image and create a strong relationship with the audience. examples include press releases, newsletters, public appearances, etc. as well as utilisation of the world wide web .
but before the industry gets too carried away, it is worth noting that there are around 400 chartered professional bodies in the uk. while the development is welcome, the challenge of gaining real and widespread recognition for the profession from the business community begins now - charter status is a means to that end rather than an accomplishment of that end in itself .
fearn - banks, k. (2000). crisis communication: a review of some best practices. in r. l. heath (ed .), handbook of public relations (pp. 479 - 485). newbury park, ca: sage .
we will teach you the theory of public relations so you can use this knowledge to enhance your professional skills. you’ll learn the ethical and societal context in which public relations operates as a developing discipline, accompanied by practical skills in campaign management and evaluation, as well as engagement with traditional and social media. through workshops with visiting practitioners and research in recommended texts, you will gain an understanding of the principles of pr which will greatly improve your decision - making skills and effectiveness at work .
as the civil unrest of the 1960s called both government and businesses to a higher level of accountability, their communication functions responded with the creation of more open, ethical, and socially responsible forms of public relations. the function of issues management (chase, 1976) began to advise executives on ethically responsible policy decisions, and symmetrical public relations (j. e. grunig & hunt, 1984) began to incorporate the desires of publics for more fair and balanced decision making. although research (bivins, 1989; pratt & rentner, 1989) showed that scant attention was given to ethics in major public relations textbooks before this time, the last decade has shown an improvement. this interest in teaching and discussing public relations ethics is good news, especially for new practitioners so that they do not inadvertently limit their prospects for promotion. as newer data (discussed below) reveals, job promotion options may be constrained for practitioners who do not know ethics or feel prepared to advise on ethical dilemmas .
we will teach you the theory of public relations so you can use this knowledge to enhance your professional skills. you’ll learn the ethical and societal context in which public relations operates as a developing discipline, accompanied by practical skills such as writing for both digital and traditional media, media planning and evaluating pr campaigns. through workshops with visiting practitioners and research in recommended texts, you will gain an understanding of the principles of pr which will greatly improve your decision - making skills and effectiveness at work .
berger, b. k. , & reber, b. h. (2006). gaining influence in public relations: the role of resistance in practice. mahwah, nj: lawrence erlbaum. berger and reber’s book focuses on power in public relations, but power and public relations are inextricably connected. this book would be a great one to read if you are experiencing resistance from your management or clients on including ethical analyses in organizational decision making. it offers guidance and research on both accruing power and influence as well as how to go a step further and become an “activist” for responsible management in your organization.
the chartered institute of public relations ( cipr ) is a professional body in the united kingdom for public relations practitioners . founded as the institute for public relations in 1948 , cipr was awarded chartered status by the privy council of the united kingdom in 2005 and added " chartered " to its name . as of late 2012 , cipr had 10,095 members . the association provides training and education , publishes a code of conduct and hosts awards and events . it is governed by a board of directors led by a president who is elected each year . 
the chartered institute of public relations (cipr) is a professional body in the united kingdom for public relations practitioners. founded as the institute for public relations in 1948, cipr was awarded chartered status by the privy council of the united kingdom in 2005 and added " chartered " to its name. as of late 2012, cipr had 10,095 members. the association provides training and education, publishes a code of conduct and hosts awards and events. it is governed by a board of directors led by a president who is elected each year.
the chartered institute of public relations (cipr) is a professional body in the united kingdom for public relations practitioners. founded as the institute for public relations in 1948, cipr was awarded chartered status by the privy council of the united kingdom in 2005 and added " chartered " to its name. as of late 2012, cipr had 10,095 members. the association provides training and education, publishes a code of conduct and hosts awards and events. it is governed by a board of directors led by a president who is elected each year.