Honesty and Accuracy

You may recall that one of your first journalism classes in college was a news writing course. At Drake University, it was J54, and nearly 30 years later, I can still remember the professor emphasizing, “Accuracy. Accuracy. Accuracy.”

It’s as important as ever in our profession, and PRSA leaders across North America are asking for more attention toward the disclosure part of the PRSA Code of Ethics. If you need a refresher, below are the main points of the Code pertaining to disclosure.

A member shall:
●    Be honest and accurate in all communications.
●    Act promptly to correct erroneous communications for which the member is responsible.
●    Investigate the truthfulness and accuracy of information released on behalf of those represented.
●    Reveal the sponsors for causes and interests represented.
●    Disclose financial interest (such as stock ownership) in a client’s organization.
●    Avoid deceptive practices.

Source: PRSA Code of Ethics

How can you incorporate these best practices into your 2024 professional goals?

Ethics Programming in 2024
We are planning an ethics program for September, which is traditionally PRSA Ethics Month. Look for more details about the program in the coming months.