Monday, March 12, 2007

Ethics and PR?


As a public relations student we are learning the ways of the field. We are taught to be ethical in our ways and to strengthen our code of character. While we are working towards becoming professional and ethical pr practioners.....other are slipping and recreating the stereo-tpye that many feel PR professionals are fueled with.


One foul PR practice was found in a news release from Innotrac Coporation of Atlanta, GA. In this news release a announcement surfaced which boasted a "multi-year, multi-million dollar customer service and technical support agreement" with a large corporate client.


The company's stock went crazy and and doubled in volume. The trading volume came close to 300,000 shares (compared to an average of just 10,000).


Later that day that company issued a statement claiming that the release was not authorized by the company and that the news was not true.


This is a good example of where a small crisis management team should come into play. This also shows how fast a small news release can catch wind with the public; and as a example the increase of the companys stock. The false news release that was published was not related with the comapany, however it makes me wonder how this was printed or released without someone checking the information first. Well, anyway...I thought this was a good example of how PR practioners are still in question of their ethics.

1 comment:

camccune said...

It's a good example of an unethical PR practice. I like your cartoon illustration too -- gets the points across.

However, you need to proofread before you publish your post. I found four typos in your first paragraph, as well as a typo and a couple other problems in your closing paragraph.