PRSA Launches Ethics App for Professional Communicators

PR pros can now have dynamic, ethics insights and guidance in the palm of their hand

NEW YORK, March 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- There are mobile business apps designed to make users more productive, more organized and more collaborative, and now there is an app to help guide public relations professionals in making ethical decisions. The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has made its Code of Ethics mobile.

The largest professional organization serving the U.S. public relations profession has developed a new mobile app, in partnership with MSLGROUP,  that will make public relations professionals more aware of the principles and guidelines that underpin ethical decision-making in internal and external communications. The app will provide an easy reference that members can turn to quickly at any time as part of their daily practice.

The PRSA Ethics app is based on the PRSA Code of Ethics, public relations' oldest code of professional conduct. Written in 1954 and updated in 2000, the PRSA Code of Ethics guides the behavior of PRSA's 32,000 professional and student members and continues to serve as the de facto ethical guide for the profession. It espouses "professional values" including advocacy, honesty, independence, loyalty and fairness, and "provisions of conduct," such as being honest and accurate in all communications, revealing the sponsors of interests represented, safeguarding client confidences and avoiding conflicts of interest.

PRSA Chair and CEO Mickey G. Nall, APR, Fellow PRSA, says that PRSA has realistic expectations for the impact of this new app on the profession's conduct and, ultimately, reputation.

"The app will give professionals at all levels, who are committed to upholding the principles of ethical communications, easy access to real-time guidance to know that what they're doing is right and, if they face questions, the support they need to justify their counsel,"  says Nall. "We believe our app is something that young professionals will benefit from using as they learn to practice in an ethical fashion."

Other features of the PRSA Ethics app include a communications ethics quiz; an RSS feed that automatically pulls-in PRSA ethics-related blog posts and new "Professional Standards Advisories," which offer timely guidance on emerging ethics issues; and email access to PRSA's Board of Ethics and Professional Standards (BEPS), the committee responsible for developing recommending refinements to PRSA's ethical standards.

"PRSA's members consistently rank our Code of Ethics and ethics education as some of our most valuable services.  Public relations professionals have aspecial obligation to operate ethically, and we frequently face challenging, time-sensitive ethical issues," said SchwartzMSL Senior Vice President and PRSA Board Member Mark W. McClennan, APR. "Because our profession's reputation depends upon the ethical conduct of every public relations professional, we owe it to them to use the latest tools and technologies to help them understand and apply ethical communications principles. As a trusted advisor to some of the world's leading brands, MSLGROUP is privileged to have partnered with PRSA in this worthwhile endeavor."

The PRSA Ethics app is available free in Google's Android Market and Apple's App Store and can be accessed from iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

About the Public Relations Society of America
PRSA is the largest professional organization serving the U.S. public relations community. With a mission to "advance the profession and the professional," PRSA provides news and information, thought leadership, continuing education and networking opportunities; sets standards of professional excellence and ethical conduct; and advocates for the business value of public relations and greater diversity among public relations professionals. Based in New York, PRSA comprises 112 local Chapters; 14 Professional Interest Sections that focus on specific industries and practice areas; and the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), which is active at more than 320 colleges and universities.

About MSLGROUP

MSLGROUP is Publicis Groupe's strategic communications and engagement group, advisors in all aspects of communication strategy: from consumer PR to financial communications, from public affairs to reputation management and from crisis communications to event management. With more than 3,700 people, its offices span 22 countries. Adding affiliates and partners into the equation, MSLGROUP's reach increases to 4,000 employees in 83 countries. Today the largest PR network in EMEA, Greater China and India, the group offers strategic planning and counsel, insight-guided thinking and big, compelling ideas – followed by thorough execution. Learn more about us at: www.mslgroup.com  + http://blog.mslgroup.com  + Twitter + YouTube.

SOURCE Public Relations Society of America