What Would You Do?

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.”

Let’s go back to the last century. What if you were the Washington lobbyist for a major tobacco company? Your job is to prevent government from restricting industry activities. What could you do when you have a family with all the financial responsibilities? You knew the science was correct; tobacco is a real health issue. There were literally hundreds of PR professionals, advertisers and marketers pushing tobacco. There are still others working in this area. Would you work there? If so why? If not why?

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