Ethics in 2022 – PRCA publishes Annual Perspective

The PRCA Global Ethics Council has released an overview of the big trends of this year, and the ethical issues they raise, with its 2022 Annual Perspective.

The Perspective considers how PR can help navigate ethical risk for clients and businesses, as well as understanding the opportunity of emerging technology platforms.
Ethical challenges being tackled by comms teams across the world covered in the report include those posed by the metaverse and Web3, NFTs, AI (Artificial Intelligence) and the importance of building safe online experiences for all.

Topics in the report include:
– The relationships between innovation, ethics and risk management
– Opportunities for PR professionals to launch new ways to measure engagement in the metaverse
– Emerging reputational risks, including breaches of user/consumer privacy, deepfakes, misinformation and cybercrime
– Requirements for the PR and communications industry to increase its knowledge on technology

30 industry thought leaders from across the globe contributed their expertise to the examination of ethics, including The Purpose Room’s Sudha Singh, Vero’s Vu Quan Nguyen Masse and M&C Saachi’s Mike Abel.

The 35-page report was spearheaded by PRCA Global Ethics Council co-chairs Mary Beth West, Nitin Mantri and Israel Opayemi.

‘The PRCA Ethics Council urges the whole of the PR industry – at every level of experience and practice – to embrace new areas of learning, awareness, and strategic consideration tied to the ethics of AI and how digital technology might be engaged in ways that potentially risk stakeholder trust and brand reputation,’ said Mary Beth West.

‘Since crafting reputation and advancing trust stand at the core of public relations expertise, this year’s PRCA Ethics Council Annual Perspective offers strategic considerations from many of the global PR industry’s best minds – and the PRCA is proud to offer this publication as a free resource to cross-disciplinary consultancies, C-suites, corporate boardrooms and academia.’

PRCA Global Ethics Council co-chair Nitin Mantri added:

‘The times are calling for bold, brave action, and the pressure on brands to deliver is at an all-time high. Authentic, purpose-led communications is the way forward. Brands will be measured on whether they’re on the right side of social change or not — and they need good communicators to take them on this journey.

‘This year’s PRCA Ethics Council Annual Perspective provides PR professionals with the tools to push their clients to be ethical and use every touch point as an opportunity to tell human stories that truly make an impact and build a deeper connection with the people the industry serves.’

Launched in May 2020, the PRCA Ethics Council was launched with an aim to raise ethical standards across the worldwide PR and communications industry.

The full 2022 Annual Perspective can be downloaded here.