The Power of Integrity in PR
Dear FPRA Family,
As PR professionals, we operate at the intersection of influence and information. That means our words carry weight, and our decisions have impact.
Over the past year, we’ve explored two of our four chapter core values: community and servant leadership. This month, we turn our attention to integrity – the commitment to “adhere to our moral and ethical beliefs, even when it’s challenging.”
And let’s be honest: in today’s world, ethical challenges aren’t rare. We’re navigating rapid news cycles, polarized conversations, and an ever-shifting communications landscape. The pressure to deliver wins can sometimes clash with our responsibility to protect our stakeholders’ trust.
That’s why FPRA’s Code of Ethics is so vital. It reminds us that our work must be grounded in honesty, accuracy, fairness, and transparency. From safeguarding confidential information to correcting misinformation, our ethical standards guide how we show up, no matter the situation.
If you hold your Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), you already know that ongoing education in ethics isn’t just encouraged—it’s required. As we enter APR Awareness Month, I invite you to revisit FPRA’s Code of Ethics and reflect on how it shapes your practice.
I also encourage you to attend our upcoming ethics seminar on April 23, where we’ll take a deep dive into the decision-making process and key legal considerations essential for PR practitioners to build trust and navigate ethical challenges effectively.
After all, public relations is about mutually beneficial relationships, and that means earning – and keeping – the trust of our clients, audiences, and communities.
Lauren Bernaldo, APR, CPRC