Information Leaks and PRSA Code of Ethics Provisions
Public relations professionals are routinely trusted with confidential and proprietary information. This information can be shared as background for certain issue or project, or it may be information shared in private conversations, meetings or activities that are considered private and not meant for public disclosure. While PRSA professionals are held to a standard of ethics, it is still common for journalists to receive leaks from inside sources at companies.
With the media covering the confidential intelligence and defense documents being shared online to inadvertently leaking top secret date whilst using ChatGPT to help with tasks, now is a great time to remind public relations professionals of the PRSA’s Board of Ethics and Professional Standards (BEPS) position on information leaks.
BEPS takes the position that members should refrain from leaking information to the media or any internal or external stakeholder without the expressed approval of organizational leadership. While the act of leaking may ingratiate a public relations representative to a specific reporter or media outlet in the short term, over the long term, the practice of leaking information undermines the profession and degrades the necessary trust that must exist between public relations professionals and their organizations’ senior leadership. Further, there are many cases where the act of leaking is illegal and can carry with it serious criminal or civil penalties.
The PRSA Code and Information Leaks
More specifically, five PRSA Code of Ethics Provisions come into play:
- Safeguarding Confidence– Protect the privacy rights of clients, organizations, and individuals by safeguarding confidential information.
- Disclosure of Information– Build trust with the public through all communications by revealing all information needed for responsible decision-making.
- Free Flow of Information– Protect and advance the free flow of accurate and truthful information to serve the public interest and contribute to informed decision-making.
- Conflicts of Interest– Avoid real, potential or perceived conflicts of interest to build the trust of clients, employers and the publics. Act in the best interest of the client or employer. Avoid actions or circumstances that may appear to compromise good business judgement or create a conflict between personal and professional interests. Disclose promptly any existing or potential conflict of interest to affected clients or organizations.
- Enhancing the Profession– Work to strengthen the public’s trust in the profession, acknowledging that there is an obligation to protect and enhance the profession.
PRSA’s Professional Values and the Leaking of Information
The following professional values of PRSA come into play:
- Loyalty – Remain faithful to those we represent, while honoring our obligation to serve the public interest.
- Honesty – Adhere to the highest standards of accuracy and truth in advancing the interests of those we represent and in communicating with the public.
- Fairness – Deal fairly with clients, employers, competitors, peers, vendors, the media and the general public. Respect all opinions and support the right of free expression.
- Advocacy – Serve the public interest by acting as responsible advocates for those we represent. Provide a voice in the marketplace of ideas, facts and viewpoints to aid informed public debate.
How to Adhere to the Code of Ethics with Regard to Leaking Information
BEPS recommends that members:
- Be fully aware of all laws, regulations, standing contracts and business terms that govern the flow of information within and on behalf of the organizations they both represent and with whom they interact.
- Adhere to all contractual and legal obligations to protect confidentiality.
- Never act autonomously by sharing information, observations, anecdotes or other information that was obtained in confidence as part of a trusted business relationship.
- Follow all standing procedures for approving the disclosure of information to both internal and external publics.
To learn more about PRSA’s code of ethics visit: https://www.prsa.org/about/ethics.
