Tag Archives: Public Relations Ethics

Identifying (Mis/Dis)Information Skills: The Need for Educating and Training a Holistic PR Professional

Editorial Record: Submitted October 5, 2023. Revised February 19, 2024 and May 1, 2024. Accepted June 16, 2024.

Authors

Courtney D. Boman
Assistant Professor
University of Alabama
Alabama, USA
Email: boman@apr.ua.edu

Laura L. Lemon
Associate Professor
University of Alabama
Alabama, USA
Email: lemon@apr.ua.edu

LaTonya J. Taylor
Doctoral Student
University of Alabama
Alabama, USA
Email: ltaylor12@crimson.ua.edu

Matthew S. VanDyke
Associate Professor
University of Alabama
Alabama, USA
Email: vandyke@apr.ua.edu

ABSTRACT

In the digital age, public relations professionals play a vital role in managing information, particularly (mis/dis)information. Understanding the ethical implications and resources needed to navigate (mis/dis)information is crucial. This study explores PR professionals’ perceptions of ethical education and the skills and resources required to address (mis/dis)information. In-depth interviews with professionals reveal insights for better preparing the next generation of PR professionals to navigate the post-truth era effectively. These findings shed light on the multifaceted skill set needed by PR professionals and the essential role of both informal and formal resources in preparing them to navigate (mis/dis)information effectively. Recommendations for education emphasize experiential learning, ethics-focused content, and readily available online resources.

JPRE_2024_10(3)_BomanEtAlDownload

Identifying & Addressing Gaps in Public Relations Ethics Education

1 Reply

Editorial Record: Submitted February 25, 2024. Revised March 8, 2024. Accepted April 11, 2024. Published June 2024.

Author

Marlene S. Neill
Professor
Baylor University
Texas, USA
Email: Marlene_Neill@baylor.edu

Shannon A. Bowen
Professor
University of South Carolina
South Carolina, USA
Email: sbowen@sc.edu

Denise Bortree
Professor
Penn State University
Pennsylvania, USA
Email: dsb177@psu.edu

ABSTRACT

Public relations practitioners need to be prepared to serve as ethics counselors and values managers. However, as revealed in the 2023 Commission on Public Relations Education report, public relations managers are not satisfied with the level of ethics knowledge possessed by recent graduates they have hired. Through additional analysis of the CPRE data collected from surveys with public relations practitioners and educators, this study reveals what topics managers believe should be taught related to public relations ethics to adequately prepare students for their careers. The results revealed significant deficiencies, especially in colleges and universities that do not offer standalone ethics courses, but simply integrate ethics content into other public relations courses. We provide specific recommendations of resources and pedagogical approaches for addressing five of the core topic areas.

Keywords: Public Relations Ethics

JPRE_101_NeillEtAl_IdentifyingAndAddressingGapsInPublicRelationsEthicsEducationDownload

To cite this article: Neill, M.S., Bowen, S.A., & Bortree, D. (2024). Identifying & addressing gaps in public relations ethics education. Journal of Public Relations Education, 10(1), 108-132. https://journalofpreducation.com/?p=4659