EthicalVoices

Real ethics stories from real communication pros

Why Communicators Deserve the Same Privilege as Lawyers

This week on EthicalVoices, Amie Hoffner, Vice President of Corporate Communications at American Dairy Queen Corporation, shares why communicators need the same protections as attorney–client privilege — and how to stay ethical when the lines between PR, marketing, and media blur. She discusses: ·         Why communicators should have the same legal protections as lawyers ·         How to avoid "on background" disasters  ·         Why trusting your gut isn't enough ·         How to counsel executives in media interviews ·         Why crisis simulations should include an ethical dilemma

10-20
25:25

Lessons from a PR Legend: Dick Martin on Ethics, Accountability, and Finding the Hard Truths

Dick Martin, the retired Chief Communication Officer for AT&T and Chairman of the Board of the PR Museum, discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) How a single racist cartoon exposed deeper organizational issues and sparked meaningful change 2) Why telling the truth in PR isn't always easy 3) Why strong ethics requires more than good intentions 4) Why you should be careful about getting too clever

08-04
23:30

Fighting Mosquitoes and Misinformation: Ethics in the Public Health Trenches

This week on Ethical Voices, Tammy Gordon, the (past) public information department manager for the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District. [Editors note: I sat on this interview for way too long and she is now Director of Public Affairs at the Citrus Heights Water District], discusses a number of important ethical issues, including: ·         How to navigate ethical conflict when your job challenges your personal values ·         How to intervene when colleagues prioritize quick fixes over responsible practices ·         How to address unethical behavior without triggering defensiveness ·         Why silence in the face of misinformation is an ethical failure

07-07
19:15

How to Effectively Address Management Decisions that Conflict with Your Values

This week on Ethical Voices, Carolyn Smith Casertano, MA, APR, Fellow PRSA, professor of practice in the Department of Communication at the University of Arizona, discusses a number of important ethics issues including; 1) How to effectively address management decisions that conflict with your values 2) What to do when a client tries to hire your staff

05-27
19:31

How to Counsel Effectively When Your Client Has a Culturally Insensitive Idea

Fabiana Meléndez Ruiz, a strategic storyteller serving as the founder and CEO of Refuerzo Collaborative, discusses a number of important ethics issues including: 1) How to counsel effectively when your client has a culturally insensitive idea 2) How can you help organizations go beyond their biases 3) Unexpected ways PR pros fail ethically with the media 4) The most overlooked part of a PR person's job

03-10
17:39

Acting Ethically With Financial Numbers

Bill Swanger, APR, Fellow PRSA, the founder of William Swanger Communications, shares a number of important ethical issues, including: 1) Why it is important to ethically address financial mistakes and clarify misunderstandings 2) Ethically navigating paid and unpaid content

01-06
22:43

How to best counsel your client when they want to respond unethically to an unethical competitor

Tatevik Simonyan, the co-founder and director of communications and international relations at SPRING PR company in Armenia, discusses: 1) How to best counsel your client when they want to respond unethically to an unethical competitor 2) How to react calmly and ethically in highly emotional crises 3) Should PR create a global code of ethics for influencer marketing 4) What companies should know about PR in Armenia

10-28
31:37

Why it's important to know many codes of ethics

Erin Kennedy, the ethics committee chair for the PRSA Central California Chapter, discusses:  1) What to do when your boss wants to disclose information before you should 2) How to better understand how those spreading misinformation think

09-09
20:14

The Importance of Really Small Things

Captain Barbara Bell, U.S. Navy (ret). Captain Bell was one of Annapolis's first female graduates and has a distinguished career as an aviator and naval flight test officer. Today, she teaches at the US Naval Academy and may discuss ethics even more than I do. In this interview she discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) The importance of the really small things 2) The ethics framework being taught to future Navy officers – and how everyone can apply it 3) How to understand and avoid biases 4) Never forget you are a role model

05-28
23:27

How to Deal with Biased Reporters - Missy Hurley

This week on Ethical Voices, Missy Hurley, the co-founder and CEO of B2 Communications, discusses a number of important ethics issues: ·         What to do when advocacy groups change your words to spread misinformation ·         How to deal with biased reporters ·         When ethically to disclose you used AI

04-22
17:25

The Importance of Comprehensive Ethics Policies

Joseph Abreu, the Chief Communications Officer for the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller of Lee County, Florida, and 2024 National Chair of PRSA., discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) The ethical importance of avoiding even the appearance of impropriety. 2) How to get ahead of AI ethics challenges

04-02
15:52

One key PR ethics lesson from the Pulse nightclub shooting

Ann Marie Varga, the internal communication manager for AdventHealth discusses a number of important ethics issues including: 1) One key PR ethics lesson from the Pulse nightclub shooting 2) How to protect your (and your team's) mental health in crisis situations 3) Ethical issues in internal communications

02-26
19:22

People Are Not Props – Christie Goodman

Christie Goodman, the director of communication for the Intercultural Development Research Association, discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) How to avoid using people as props and authentically engage 2) Ethics challenges with assumptions 3) How to effectively engage and learn from diverse audiences 4) How to effectively advance social justice issues 

02-12
15:50

How to Build Trust Ethically and Effectively

Joining me on this week's episode is Roy Reid, a senior fellow with the Stockworth Institute, and he is recognized as one of the Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business. He discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) What to do when your client asks you to besmirch the competition 2) How to effectively and ethically build trust 3) What to do when employees, clients and partners break your trust

01-22
23:22

The Promise and Pitfalls, the Ethical Use of AI for Public Relations Practitioners - A Conversation with Michelle Egan and Mark Dvorak

In November 2023, PRSA issued new ethics guidelines titled "The Promise and Pitfalls, the Ethical Use of AI for Public Relations Practitioners". Michelle Egan, the 2023 National Chair of PRSA and Mark Dvorak, the 2023 Chair of PRSA's Board of Ethics and Professional Standards discuss the AI guidelines and more.

01-08
19:49

We need to tell the hard truths – Ed Harrison

Ed Harrison, the managing director of Inkhouse in Boston discusses several ethics issues including: 1) Ethical failures with data 2) Why we need to tell the hard truths 3) The important difference between being nice and being kind 4) An interactive discussion on AI tools and training

12-18
24:05

How to Conduct PR Research Ethically – Marcia DiStaso

This week on Ethical Voices, Marcia DiStaso, Associate Dean for Research in the College of Journalism and Communications and Professor of Public Relations at the University of Florida. discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: How do we ethically ask questions in research? What to absolutely never, ever do when conducting research for a PR campaign Ethical challenges with AI in PR

11-20
22:51

What should you do when you think you received an unlawful order?

Dave Honchul, APR Fellow, PRSA is a public affairs specialist at the US Department of the Treasury and a docent at the National Museum of the US Air Force. He discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) What to do when you think you received an unlawful order 2) One key thing many PR pros are forgetting to do 3) How far do you need to dig before deciding something is true

10-30
22:25

What to do when PR Pros accidentally spread misinformation

Kelsey Bohl, the Senior Manager of Corporate Communications Press Office at Walmart, discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) Why corporations need to be careful they aren't the oones spreading misinformation 2) Ethics of data analysis 3) Why PR pros need to change their definition of media

10-16
17:46

The Ethical Implications of Blurred Lines – Cheryll Forsatz

Cheryll Forsatz, the Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Relations for Ferrero USA discusses:  1) The ethical implications of blurred lines 2) Influencer ethics and disclosure 3) Ethics and AI

09-14
17:45

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