Ethical PR: Navigating Trust and Responsibility

In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a public relations consultant, discusses the crucial topic of PR ethics with industry experts Mary Beth West and Jared Mead. They explore the importance of ethical practices in public relations, share their extensive backgrounds, and discuss the creation of an online PR ethics community on LinkedIn.

The episode covers why ethics in PR is often overlooked, the necessity of integrating ethical discussions into the classroom, and the importance of collaborating with legal teams.

Highlighting relevant resources such as industry associations, ethical guidelines, and initiatives like the International Communications Consultancy Organization (ICCO) and the Ethics and Compliance Initiative (ECI), the guests emphasize proactive steps to integrate ethical practices in PR.

The discussion also touches on the ethical use of AI in PR and the need for continuous advocacy to improve the public perception of the PR profession.

The episode concludes by encouraging PR professionals to engage deeply with ethical standards to enhance the industry’s credibility and effectiveness.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:39 Mary Beth’s Background and PR Ethics Advocacy

01:57 Jared’s Background and Ethics in PR

03:33 The Importance of PR Ethics

05:02 Challenges in Discussing PR Ethics

08:05 Ethics Education in PR

17:05 Handling Unethical Requests

25:44 Creating Effective Ethics Guidelines

31:35 The Psychological Toll of Whistleblowing

34:20 The Importance of Legal and PR Collaboration

37:07 Navigating the Court of Public Opinion

43:10 Ethical Use of AI in PR

55:51 Advocating for PR Ethics

58:40 Final Thoughts and Resources

Show notes:

PR Ethics community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/prethics/

Mary Beth West on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbwcommunications/

Jared Meade on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredmeademps/

Jared Meade of Rayne Strategy Group website: https://www.raynestrategygroup.com/

Follow the host:

Website: www.michellegarrett.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prstrategist/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PRisUs

X/Twitter: https://x.com/PRisUs

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@prwritergal

Michelle's book - B2B PR That Gets Results - is available now

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About the host: Michelle Garrett is a B2B PR consultant, media relations consultant, writer and author of B2B PR That Gets Results, an Amazon Best Seller. She helps companies create content, earn media coverage, and position themselves as thought leaders in their industry. Michelle’s articles have been featured by Entrepreneur, Content Marketing Institute, Muck Rack, and Ragan’s PR Daily, among others. She’s a frequent speaker and podcast guest on public relations and content. Michelle has been repeatedly ranked among the top ten most influential PR professionals.