National Capital Chapter

September 2021 President’s Message

Dear NCC Members and Colleagues,

Who among us has not been asked, at one point or another, to “spin” a negative story, hold information or “fudge” the numbers or has dealt with misinformation about their organization? In the face of pressure from supervisors or clients, standing our ethical ground can be challenging, yet as communication professionals we can do no less.

During the month of September, PRSA recognizes the importance of the ethical practice of public relations. The theme of this year’s month is “Leading with Ethics.”

PRSA offers many resources to support communicators, spearheaded by the Board of Ethics and Professional Standards (BEPS). On PRSA’s Ethics Page, you can find resources ranging from the Board of Ethics and Professional Standards – BEPS Handbook and the PRSA Code of Ethics to practical case studies, webinars, articles and blog posts to help you navigate a variety of ethical challenges. At a local level, our PRSA NCC ethics officer advises the PRSA NCC Board of Directors on strategies and tactics to ensure that fostering ethical behavior is inherent in everything we do as a chapter.

During September, I encourage you to review the many resources PRSA has to offer on negotiating ethical dilemmas within our industry:

Additionally, over the next month, there will be an array of programming for you to engage in and further advance your understanding of and commitment to leading ethically:

Webinar
Stay Humble and Keep Your Head Down: A Conversation on Ethics Like None Other
Tuesday, September 21, 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET

PRSSA Twitter Chat
Leading with Ethics Twitter Chat
Wednesday, September 22, 8:00 p.m. ET
Follow @PRSSANational and join the conversation using the hashtag #EthicsMonth.

Editorial Coverage
Weekly PRsay blog posts
Feature articles in the September issue of Strategies & Tactics

Leading with integrity and passion,

Sincerely,

Lauren Lawson-Zilai
PRSA NCC President