Jared Meade, MPS, APR, MPRCA

With the power of #publicrelations in their 🤲, practitioners can change the 🌎. One of those practitioners is #MurielFox, a feminist #activist and #PR executive. prnewsonline.com/the-feminist-t…

Companies, #presidents and #leaders come and go. What should worry us are the systemic changes that stick around, shaping the world our children will inherit. Policies and decisions are too often made for immediate gain, with little thought to long-term consequences. #PRethics

How do we advocate for #transparency and #trust while navigating a media landscape that’s increasingly partisan? #PR pros want to tell stories of value, but news outlets often come with their own editorial lens. It can feel like “playing the game” to gain access. #PRethics

When you report the #news, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀. When you share an opinion, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆. But somewhere along the way, that line has blurred. #PRethics

Trade associations exist for members. Members have not only the right but also the duty to stay informed, demand accountability and ask questions. But what happens when they stop asking questions? If they disengage, #credibility of the entire profession is at risk. #PRethics

𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 #𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲. When massive #PR and #media conglomerates profit from political polarization; the messaging stops being about clarity.

#PR trade associations are supposed to champion #transparency, #credibility and #trust. But what happens when those same values aren’t practiced internally? #PRethics

Once, broadcasters were required to present both sides of an issue. If they failed, it was called yellow #journalism. There was an ethical line, and it was widely understood. Then deregulation from both sides of the political aisle reshaped the landscape. #PRethics

Some #associations talk a big game about “unity” and “togetherness,” right up until a member asks an uncomfortable question. Then suddenly the tone changes. Instead of fostering dialogue, #leadership tries to control it. #PRethics

Paramount is the leading candidate to acquire Warner Bros., a move that will reshape the #media landscape. A corporate chess match that led to the president's public commentary on who should own a major news network. What does that mean for public trust in media? #PRethics

There was a time when you had to earn the privilege of #influencing people at scale. Society recognized that speaking into the public square carries #power and #responsibility. The platforms have changed and the licensing requirements may be gone, but the responsibility hasn’t.

When an #association responds to dissent with silence or punishment, it's not representing its members, its protecting itself. For a better #PR profession, we must have uncomfortable conversations about #accountability, #transparency and #leadership.

When organizations frame #whistleblowers as “the problem,” it tells you everything about their culture. That’s #toxicity. If an organization is “kill the messenger” driven, no amount of window dressing will fix it. #PRethics

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀? Johnny Carson refused to dive into #politics because he knew #entertainment and #journalism served different purposes. Somewhere along the way, we lost that distinction. #PRethics

𝗜𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Those questions aren’t threats. And the #PR industry should be strong enough to handle them.

Fewer gatekeepers can seem efficient, even convenient, depending on which “side” you’re on. But that’s exactly why fewer voices should worry all of us. For those in #PR and #communications, we should want a landscape with many voices, many perspectives existing side by side.

If you only watch one network, you're not getting the full picture. If you only follow and trust voices that share your opinion, you're not getting the full story either. News isn't supposed to be #conservative or #liberal; it's supposed to be news.

What responsibility do trade associations have when they’ve shared information that is inaccurate or misleading? Many organizations have ethics codes, but those codes mean little if they're not followed. #Trust is maintained by telling the #truth, even when it's uncomfortable.

As media and #PR conglomerates continue to consolidate and exert increasing influence, are #journalists still driving coverage, or are larger forces shaping what rises to the top? The #media holds power accountable. But what happens when that power begins influencing the media?

#PR professionals exist to help organizational #leadership communicate clearly, ethically and truthfully. Then why do so many of our trade associations struggle with #governance, #transparency, or handling dissent? An issue that erodes credibility quickly.

#PRpros exist to help organizational #leadership communicate clearly, ethically and truthfully. Then why do so many of our trade associations struggle with #governance, #transparency, or handling dissent?