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 Welcome00:39 Mary Beth’s Background and PR Ethics Advocacy01:57 Jared’s Background and Ethics in PR03:33 The Importance of PR Ethics05:02 Challenges in Discussing PR Ethics08:05 Ethics Education in PR17:05 Handling Unethical Requests25:44 Creating Effective Ethics Guidelines31:35 The Psychological Toll of Whistleblowing34:20 The Importance of Legal and PR Collaboration37:07 Navigating the Court of Public Opinion43:10 Ethical Use of AI in PR55:51 Advocating for PR Ethics58:40 Final Thoughts and ResourcesShow 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/@PRisUsX/Twitter: https://x.com/PRisUsThreads: https://www.threads.com/@prwritergalMichelle's book - B2B PR That Gets Results - is available nowBook a no-obligation call to talk about your needs here. 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.