The PRSA Code of Ethics was established in 1950 and has been revised several times. It was developed through a two-year research process among PRSA members to create an aspirational code without enforcement aspects. The current code features a preamble, six professional values, six code provisions with a core principle, intent, guidelines, and examples of unethical behavior to guide practitioners' decisions and benefit the public relations profession through ethical conduct.
2. Lesson Two | Codes
Lesson Overview
โข History of the Code
โข Developing the Current Code
โข Features of the Code
โข Applying the Code
3. Lesson Two| Codes
History of the Code
โข First Code established in 1950
โ Revisions in subsequent years
โข Enforcement provisions added along the way
โข Designed to guide professionalsโ behavior
4. Discussion Question #1
How has the history of public relations
influenced the PRSA Code of Ethics?
Lesson Two| Codes
5. Developing the Current Code
โข Two-year process
โ Research among membership
โข Code driven by research results
โข Emphasis on an aspirational code
โข Enforcement aspect removed
Lesson Two| Codes
6. Discussion Question #2
What are the advantages and
disadvantages of a research-based
process for developing a
code of ethics?
Lesson Two| Codes
7. Features of the Code
โข Preamble
โข Professional values (6)
โข Code provisions (6)
โ Core principle
โ Intent
โ Guidelines
โ Examples of unethical behavior
Lesson Two| Codes
8. Discussion Question #3
Which element of the PRSA Code
of Ethics is most useful to
practitioners, and why?
Lesson Two| Codes
9. Applying the Code
โข Look to examples of unethical conduct
โข Identify code provisions that are applicable
โข Make decisions based on provided guidelines
โ When guidelines arenโt available, look to
professional values for guidance
Lesson Two| Codes
10. Discussion Question #4
How does the PRSA Code of Ethics
benefit a public relations practitioner
in his/her work? How can this code of
ethics benefit the public relations
profession overall?
Lesson Two| Codes
