PR and communications industry believe Bell Pottinger expulsion had positive impact

One year on from the PRCA’s expulsion of Bell Pottinger, the association has revealed that a majority of the PR and communications industry believe that the expulsion had a positive impact on the reputation and ethics of the industry.

On 5 September 2017, the PRCA announced that Bell Pottinger’s membership was terminated, the most serious sanction the PRCA could impose. This move followed a complaint from the Democratic Alliance, which led to an investigation into the agency’s work for Oakbay Capital in South Africa.

The PRCA asked the industry what impact, if any, the decision has had on the reputation of our industry and profession; 63% of the PRCA Members agreed the expulsion had a positive impact.

Only 16% said that it has had little impact, while 14% thought it had no impact at all.

A further question, asking what impact the decision had on the importance practitioners place on ethical practice, revealed that 63% thought it had a positive impact.

Ethics is undoubtedly on the agenda across the PR and comms industry, evidenced by the recent ethics code agreed by global PR associations, and more broadly in the application of AI in the sector.

Francis Ingham MPRCA, Director General, PRCA, said: ‘Last year’s PRCA decision to expel Bell Pottinger was a defining moment for the industry. In taking the decisive action we did, we made clear that the industry expects and enforces the highest of standards. A year on, we can see that the reputation of the industry, and the value it places on ethical practice, have both been raised. There is more to be done, but the last year has been one of progress and change for the better.’