Ethics Aren't Always Black and White

September for PRSA and SCPRSA is ethics month. I hope to raise your awareness of ethics. 

Ethics is moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior. Keep in mind you need to think as if you had “skin in the game.”

 

Should a PR person know the whole story? Individual companies, industries, utilities, businesses, etc. have products and services to offer the public. Their ultimate goal is to generate revenue. Before becoming involved in helping shape the information about some product or service you certainly will be given the good information, but should you also know any downside? Certainly, you should, but what if some negative outcome is omitted from the information you were given and you find out about it through a back channel or even worse from a media contact. 

What would you do? Do you have an obligation to inform your media contacts? What if your employer informs you to “do nothing?” What are your choices? Your skin is in the game.

Do not be confused. When promoting a product or service, I believe one does not have to give the competition’s side.

In our society there are many issues that should make us think about ethics. Many of them are not black and white; they must be considered individually and personal conclusions drawn.  I trust this example has made you think about ethics.

Joe S. Jones, APR, joe@jma-associations.com

SCPRSA

Jones, McAden & Associates