Concepts Of Ethics In Public Relations Management: A Practitioner's Perspective
Date of Graduation
Summer 2004
Degree
Master of Arts in Communication
Department
Communication
Committee Chair
Samuel Dyer
Abstract
This thesis utilizes a survey of professional public relations practitioners in regards to their personal ethical beliefs and actual occupational behaviors in relation to the attainment of professional accreditation as members of professional public relations organizations. The survey, exploring the areas of disclosure of information, honesty, the perceived role of public relations professionals, the professional loyalties, and a match between professional behaviors and beliefs, was sent to 450 professional public relations professionals. With a response rate of nearly 20 percent, it was found that there is a relationship between the personal beliefs and professional behaviors of public relations practitioners. Public relations practitioners that are members of professional groups are more ethical in their beliefs and behaviors than non-affiliated professionals. Public relations practitioners that are accredited by professional groups are more ethical in their beliefs and behaviors than non-accredited public relations practitioners.
Keywords
public relations, ethics, accreditation, Accredited Business Communicator (ABC), Accredited Public Relations (APR), membership
Subject Categories
Communication
Copyright
© Stephen T. Smith
Recommended Citation
Smith, Stephen T., "Concepts Of Ethics In Public Relations Management: A Practitioner's Perspective" (2004). MSU Graduate Theses. 2271.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/2271
Dissertation/Thesis