Chap 5: Professionalism and Ethics Flashcards
What are the 6 indicators of professional status? (name at least 3)
- Professional associations
- Specialized educational
- A body of theory-based knowledge, developed through research, that provides us with principles of appropriate and effective public relations practice
- Codes of ethics and standards
- Autonomy in practice and acceptance of personal responsibility by practitioners
- Recognition by the community
The most recent Commission on Public Relations Education recommended that under-graduate public relations programs contain the following core content areas of study…. name them (5)
- Theory, Origin, Principles, and Professional Practice of Public Relations
- Public Relations Ethics and Law
- Public Relations Research, Measurement, and Performance Evaluation
- Public Relations Planning and Management
- Public Relations Writing and Production
what other courses did the Commission also recommended undergraduate pr students take (5 listed, name 3)
business management and marketing, sociology, public administration, political science, and international business courses. 12
Public relations’ value to society is ENHANCED when what three things happen?
( 1) it promotes the free, ethical competition of ideas, information, and education in the marketplace of public opinion; ( 2) it reveals the sources and goals of participants in the debate; and ( 3) it enforces high standards of conduct.
Value to society is DIMINISHED when what three things happen?
( 1) it suppresses or otherwise limits competition of ideas; ( 2) it hides or ascribes to others the true sources of public relations efforts; and ( 3) it leaves unchallenged incompetent or unethi-cal practice.
Name the major positives of socially responsible public relations include the following (name at least 3 there are 5)
- codifies/enforces ethical conduct and standards of performance. 2. emphasizes the need for public approval. 3. makes all points of view articulate in the public forum. 4. uses communication and mediation to replace misinformation with information, discord with rapport. 5. promotes human welfare
Name the three major negatives can be attributed to the practice.
- gains advantages for and promotes special interests, sometimes at the cost of the public well-being. 2. unnecessary publicity clutters already-choked channels of communication 3. can corrode channels of communication w/ cynicism and credibility gaps.
Define: codes of ethics
A basic requirement for professions is adherence to a set of professional norms
Codes of ethics are unilateral and established professional associations. T/F
F) Codes of ethics may be established by specific employers or by professional associations.
T/F The PRSA has become relaxed in the enforcement of their code of ethics, which is an American standard.
F) Enforcement by PRSA’s Board of Ethics and Professional Standards has been uneven over the years. Few cases get referred to the ethics panel. Most cases that are referred are dismissed due to lack of evidence, settled to the satisfaction of all parties, or dropped because the charged member died or simply resigned.
“ Unfortunately, these codes (of ethics) have little real value unless….
….they are accepted in turn by the employers of practitioners and applied to the conduct of the business itself.”
Define: occupational licensure
the permission granted by the state or government to engage in a specific occupation
Do PR practitioners in the US have licenses? Why/why not?
No, practitioners in the United States remain divided on the feasibility and desirability of licensing.
In the Unites States, licensing raises three basic constitutional issues. What are they?
(1) the right of freedom of expression
(2) states regulation rights
(3) the right of individuals to pursue occupations without unjustified government interference.
