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

Citation-only

Dissertation/Thesis

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