PRSA vs. CIPR vs. IABC in Codes of Ethics

The Chartered Institute of Public Relation’s (CIPR) code of ethics is much more spelled out then the codes of ethics for the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). There are many paragraphs explaining how to prosecute one who is in violation of the code. I assume that there have been many cases in which the interpretations of the code have varied which have led to controversy. Writing a detailed code avoids a great deal of that kind of mess.

The IABC code of ethics has a much more business minded approach. IABC’s code uses lots of words like "legal" and "timely." I believe that this is due to the fact that this code was written by business professionals that ended up in communications, hence the BC in IABC.

PRSA’s code seems to have integrity closer to the heart than the other two. It is brief and has a feel of, "you know what you should do." I think this is why this code of ethics is held as the standard for public relations.

However, fundamentally these codes come from the same place. They all put great emphasis on honesty and accuracy.

Ethical or Unethical?

Anheuser-Busch’s marketing campaign involving University colors can be considered both ethical and unethical depending on the models you observe it through.

The Communitarianism model states that you must not think about individual rights as much as you think about social responsibility. Under this model Anheuser-Busch’s marketing campaign is considered unethical. By putting school colors on beer cans they are targeting college age students. Being that not all college age students are of drinking age they are, in a sense, dangling a forbidden fruit.

The Virtue Ethics model states that you must look at the actor rather than the deed. Under this model Anheuser-Busch’s marketing campaign is considered ethical. Anheuser-Busch stated that they are against underage drinking. Anheuser-Busch also stated that they have spent more than $750 million to prevent alcohol abuse.

The Egoism model states that the protecting its reputation and minimizing economic losses is the most ethical thing to do. Under this model Anheuser-Busch’s marketing campaign is considered ethical. This marketing campaign would boost sales and liquidize a lot of currency. This would be good for the economy.

The Consequentialism model states that the ends achieved determine ethicality. Under this model Anheuser-Busch’s marketing campaign is considered unethical. This campaign would generally cause everyone with money to buy more beer. Not everyone with money can legally buy beer. People who can legally buy beer would most likely purchase more, which would theoretically lead to more binge drinking.

Cheer up

Yesterday I heard an economist talking on the radio. He said one of the biggest problems with today’s volatile market is that everyone is afraid. This affects their buying and selling habits. I agree. The other day I heard someone comparing today’s economy to the great depression. I asked her if she was crazy or ignorant. I believe it was the latter because the depression was far more dismal than what we face today. I think this recession is exaggerated in large part because of the ease of communication. The more people talk about a problem the worse it looks. Due to the fact that everyone can talk to everyone with great ease the problem seems worse then it is. Common guys, Cheer up!

The Broken Horse

I just finished my paper for my journalism class and it brought something to my attention. Rock and roll is becoming more and more tame. Rock and roll use to be considered the devils music. Now it has become almost completely acceptable. So what will be the rebel voice in today’s mass media now? I believe rap has taken the torch. It is now being bombarded by preachers and philanthropists alike. Perhaps soon it will be tamed as well; but what will take rap’s place?

A Straight View

This semester is nearly over. I am now more in tune with stereotypes and racial references in the media. However, I believe that if you look for racism or stereotypes in the media your mind twists what you see and you find what it is you are looking for. So the question is: How hard should I examine what I look at? The answer is this. Educate yourself on racism and stereotypes. After that, take everything for what it is.

You Are What You Are

After watching Spike Lee’s film “Bamboozled” one question has been brought to my attention. What makes a black man? Many people ponder the question of what makes a person a man; perhaps its courage or dependability. However there seems to be more precise specifications to be a black man. In “Bamboozled” black men were accused of not being black because of the way they acted. Personally, I think if a male is dependable, honest and lives up to his word he is a man. If an African-American is those things and has acknowledged his culture and embraced it fully then he is a black man.

52 years, 11 months and 3 days

On December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks was arrested when she refused to give up her seat to a white man. On November 4, 2008 Barack Obama was chosen over a white man to be the President of the United States of America. We’ve come a long way.