Ethical Voices Podcast: Real Ethics Stories from Real PR Pros

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Ethical Voices is a weekly podcast featuring real stories, from real PR professionals about real ethical issues they have faced. Hosted by Mark McClennan, APR, Fellow PRSA, each week highlights a new PR professional and one key ethical decision or challenge they faced in their career.

Mark McClennan, APR, Fellow PRSA


    • Mar 10, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 23m AVG DURATION
    • 182 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Ethical Voices Podcast: Real Ethics Stories from Real PR Pros

    How to Counsel Effectively When Your Client Has a Culturally Insensitive Idea

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2025 17:39


    Fabiana Meléndez Ruiz, a strategic storyteller serving as the founder and CEO of Refuerzo Collaborative, discusses a number of important ethics issues including: 1) How to counsel effectively when your client has a culturally insensitive idea 2) How can you help organizations go beyond their biases 3) Unexpected ways PR pros fail ethically with the media 4) The most overlooked part of a PR person's job

    Acting Ethically With Financial Numbers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2025 22:43


    Bill Swanger, APR, Fellow PRSA, the founder of William Swanger Communications, shares a number of important ethical issues, including: 1) Why it is important to ethically address financial mistakes and clarify misunderstandings 2) Ethically navigating paid and unpaid content

    How to best counsel your client when they want to respond unethically to an unethical competitor

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2024 31:37


    Tatevik Simonyan, the co-founder and director of communications and international relations at SPRING PR company in Armenia, discusses: 1) How to best counsel your client when they want to respond unethically to an unethical competitor 2) How to react calmly and ethically in highly emotional crises 3) Should PR create a global code of ethics for influencer marketing 4) What companies should know about PR in Armenia

    Why it's important to know many codes of ethics

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 20:14


    Erin Kennedy, the ethics committee chair for the PRSA Central California Chapter, discusses:  1) What to do when your boss wants to disclose information before you should 2) How to better understand how those spreading misinformation think

    The Importance of Really Small Things

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2024 23:27


    Captain Barbara Bell, U.S. Navy (ret). Captain Bell was one of Annapolis's first female graduates and has a distinguished career as an aviator and naval flight test officer. Today, she teaches at the US Naval Academy and may discuss ethics even more than I do. In this interview she discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) The importance of the really small things 2) The ethics framework being taught to future Navy officers – and how everyone can apply it 3) How to understand and avoid biases 4) Never forget you are a role model

    How to Deal with Biased Reporters - Missy Hurley

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2024 17:25


    This week on Ethical Voices, Missy Hurley, the co-founder and CEO of B2 Communications, discusses a number of important ethics issues: ·         What to do when advocacy groups change your words to spread misinformation ·         How to deal with biased reporters ·         When ethically to disclose you used AI

    The Importance of Comprehensive Ethics Policies

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2024 15:52


    Joseph Abreu, the Chief Communications Officer for the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller of Lee County, Florida, and 2024 National Chair of PRSA., discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) The ethical importance of avoiding even the appearance of impropriety. 2) How to get ahead of AI ethics challenges

    One key PR ethics lesson from the Pulse nightclub shooting

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2024 19:22


    Ann Marie Varga, the internal communication manager for AdventHealth discusses a number of important ethics issues including: 1) One key PR ethics lesson from the Pulse nightclub shooting 2) How to protect your (and your team's) mental health in crisis situations 3) Ethical issues in internal communications

    People Are Not Props – Christie Goodman

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2024 15:50


    Christie Goodman, the director of communication for the Intercultural Development Research Association, discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) How to avoid using people as props and authentically engage 2) Ethics challenges with assumptions 3) How to effectively engage and learn from diverse audiences 4) How to effectively advance social justice issues 

    How to Build Trust Ethically and Effectively

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2024 23:22


    Joining me on this week's episode is Roy Reid, a senior fellow with the Stockworth Institute, and he is recognized as one of the Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business. He discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) What to do when your client asks you to besmirch the competition 2) How to effectively and ethically build trust 3) What to do when employees, clients and partners break your trust

    The Promise and Pitfalls, the Ethical Use of AI for Public Relations Practitioners - A Conversation with Michelle Egan and Mark Dvorak

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2024 19:49


    In November 2023, PRSA issued new ethics guidelines titled “The Promise and Pitfalls, the Ethical Use of AI for Public Relations Practitioners”. Michelle Egan, the 2023 National Chair of PRSA and Mark Dvorak, the 2023 Chair of PRSA's Board of Ethics and Professional Standards discuss the AI guidelines and more.

    We need to tell the hard truths – Ed Harrison

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2023 24:05


    Ed Harrison, the managing director of Inkhouse in Boston discusses several ethics issues including: 1) Ethical failures with data 2) Why we need to tell the hard truths 3) The important difference between being nice and being kind 4) An interactive discussion on AI tools and training

    How to Conduct PR Research Ethically – Marcia DiStaso

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 22:51


    This week on Ethical Voices, Marcia DiStaso, Associate Dean for Research in the College of Journalism and Communications and Professor of Public Relations at the University of Florida. discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: How do we ethically ask questions in research? What to absolutely never, ever do when conducting research for a PR campaign Ethical challenges with AI in PR

    What should you do when you think you received an unlawful order?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 22:25


    Dave Honchul, APR Fellow, PRSA is a public affairs specialist at the US Department of the Treasury and a docent at the National Museum of the US Air Force. He discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) What to do when you think you received an unlawful order 2) One key thing many PR pros are forgetting to do 3) How far do you need to dig before deciding something is true

    What to do when PR Pros accidentally spread misinformation

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2023 17:46


    Kelsey Bohl, the Senior Manager of Corporate Communications Press Office at Walmart, discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) Why corporations need to be careful they aren't the oones spreading misinformation 2) Ethics of data analysis 3) Why PR pros need to change their definition of media

    The Ethical Implications of Blurred Lines – Cheryll Forsatz

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2023 17:45


    Cheryll Forsatz, the Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Relations for Ferrero USA discusses:  1) The ethical implications of blurred lines 2) Influencer ethics and disclosure 3) Ethics and AI

    How Much Human Agency Do We Require in Public Relations? – Ant Cousins

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2023 21:47


    This week, Ant Cousins, the Executive Director of AI Strategy at Cision, discusses a number of important issues, including: Cision's AI ethics policy The ethics implications of the use of AI in public relations How much human agency do we require in public relations? The most concerning AI ethics issues Where should PR pros start when they want to learn more about AI?

    Bringing True, Ethical Authenticity to Multicultural Communications - Jennifer Gonzalez

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2023 16:36


    Joining me on this week's episode is Jennifer Gonzalez, the senior vice president of multicultural strategy at C+C. Jen and I are colleagues, and we had a great ethics discussion recently, so I invited her to be a guest. Jennifer discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: What to do when you know your prospect's multicultural program does not align with the community's needs Ethical issues in partnering with community-based organizations Why sometimes being equitable requires you to say no

    PR Ethics: From Client Selection to AI Challenges - KayAnn Schoeneman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2023 16:13


    This week on Ethical Voices, KayAnn Schoeneman, President of Curley Company discusses:   How to determine if a client is right for you Ethical issues in opposition research AI ethics challenges

    Succeeding with Conscience: Navigating Ethical Challenges in Career Growth

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2023 16:28


    Bradley Akubuiro, a partner at Bully Pulpit Interactive, discusses a number of important ethics issues including: 1) How to deal with an ethical quandary: Career advancement or decency? 2) How to effectively serve as the conscience of an organization 3) How to deal with issues in a hyper-politicized environment

    Preserving Authenticity: The Nuances of Ethical Storytelling in Advocacy Communications

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2023 19:54


    This week on EthicalVoices, Zainab Chaudary, Senior Vice President at New Heights Communications discusses several key ethics issues, including: 1) Lost opportunities: lessons learned from the Muslim Ban Supreme Court case 2) Navigating the tension: ethically balancing client desires and media success 3) Why you need to go beyond mission, vision and values 4) How to break down the silos in advocacy

    How Can Businesses Create A More Ethical Environment - Erica Salmon Byrne

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2023 19:59


    Erica Salmon Byrne, CEO of Ethisphere discusses: 1) How does a company become one of the World's Most Ethical Companies? 2) What are the top ethics issues facing companies? 3) How can businesses create a more ethical environment? 4) What questions should businesses ask about ethics and AI? 5) Proof that being ethical is good business

    We Must Confront the Uncomfortable Truths

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2023 19:55


    Roger Bolton, the president of Page, discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) What to do when a reporter is writing a story that you know will quickly become inaccurate 2) Why we need to confront the uncomfortable truths 3) The ethical use of technology and AI 4) Understanding the Page Principles

    How can we best balance safeguarding confidences and disclosure of information?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2023 15:20


    Pete Scott, the president and CEO of American Pet Products Association. He discusses a number of important issues, including: 1) How can we best balance safeguarding confidences and disclosure of information? 2) How fast should we move on AI?

    ceo ai balance disclosure safeguarding confidences american pet products association pete scott
    What societal issues does every company have an ethical duty to support?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2023 21:25


    Niel Golightly, a partner at FGS Global,  discusses several important ethics issues, including: 1) An important lesson he learned flying an F-14 over the Indian Ocean 2) What is the hardest ethical decision? 3) The power of humility 4) How do we redefine a corporation's role in society? 5) What societal issues does every company have an ethical duty to support?

    Acting Ethically Means Going Beyond Performative Action

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2023 18:09


    Joining me on this week's EthicalVoices episode is Candace Hamana, the owner of Badger PR and the founder of The Indigenous Peoples Public Relations Association. She discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: What to do when your employer doesn't let you act in true faith How to make land acknowledgments more than a performative action The importance of cultural contexts

    Your client is accused of price gouging, now what?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2023 12:59


    Scott Brooks, a public relations specialist for the TVA, shares several ethics insights, including: 1) Your client is accused of price gouging, now what? 2) How to keep truth at the forefront 3) How to ethically deal with advocacy

    What is Public Relations' First Responsibility in Ethical Situations?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2023 17:43


    Linda Welter, the CEO of Caliber Group, a brand marketing, public relations, and digital firm discusses a number of important ethics topics, including: 1) Where do you draw the competitive line? 2) What is our first responsibility in ethical situations? 3) Ethics issues with influencers

    2022 Brands in Motion: Global Ethics Insights – Rebecca Wilson

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2022 14:34


    Rebecca Wilson, the Executive Vice President International for WE Communications International provides a great overview of the 2022 Brands in Motion Study and what it means for ethical communicators, including:  1) Addressing the diversity quota dilemma and tokenization 2) How many companies are delivering on their value-led commitments 3) How do brands balance their commitments to practical short-term issues versus long-term issues? 4) Key findings from the 2022 Brands In Motion Study 5) The two things every ethical communicator must embrace

    Public Relations Professionals Are Failing to Address the Ethical Threat of Incivility – Brian Peterson

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2022 17:15


    Brian Peterson, the principal of Greater Life Communications, discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) How respect can effectively address unethical situations 2) The ethical threat of incivility 3) How public relations professionals are failing and what we can do 4) The need for a culture of kindness

    The Ethics of Press Trips, Reviews and Affiliate Links – Scott Tharler

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2022 19:23


    We're doing something a little bit different this week. I spoke with Technology Journalist Scott Tharler about:  1) The ethics of press trips 2) The ethics of reviews and selling products you review 3) The ethics of affiliate links

    Is Is All About Helping People - Sandy Young

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2022 17:59


    Sandy Young, the vice president of J. Walcher Communications, discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) What to do ethically when a reporter wants to showcase a vulnerable person 2) How to handle PR with asylum seekers 3) How to help people understand “No” is an option 4) The ethics of how we are covering Kanye West 5) Why we need to update disclosure rules

    The Major Ethical Issues in Employee Communications – Ethan McCarty

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2022 23:52


    Ethan McCarty, the founder and CEO of Integral, an award-winning employee activation agency, shares some great  ethics insights including: 1) The ongoing ethical challenge of creating shared beliefs 2) Ethical issues with creating your own echo chamber 3) Ethical perils in personalizing employee communications 4) The ethics of quiet quitting

    Trust the people doing the work - Renea Morris

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2022 17:08


    Renea Morris, APR, Fellow PRSA, the Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications at the University of Denver, discusses a number of important PR ethics issues including: 1) What to do when you are uneasy with your company's growth strategy? 2) Why organizations should worry less about filtering people's comments on social channels and trust the people doing the work? 3) Where can Higher Ed improve?

    The most important ethics priority for healthcare communicators

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022 15:37


    Kena Lewis APR, Fellow PRSA, the Senior Director of Public Affairs and Media Relations at Orlando Health. discusses several important ethics issues, including: 1) What to do ethically when your boss is the problem 2) The ethical challenges of online identity 3) The most important ethics priority for healthcare communicators 4) How do you balance safeguarding confidences with transparency and honesty?

    PR Ethics: What Happens When There is a Coup?  – Alex Dance

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2022 13:39


    For Ethics Month, I wanted to look at new topics and geographies. Joining me this week is Alex Dance, the Managing Director of ERA Communications in Cambodia. He discusses several important ethics issues, including: 1) What should you do when clients are even tangentially affiliated with a coup? 2) The state of misinformation in Cambodia 3) The impact of influencers on Cambodians 4) Ethical challenges with clickbait

    How to successfully advocate for transparency – Jamie Floer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2022 13:47


    Jamie Floer, APR, CPRC, Fellow PRSA, the Communications Manager for the Toho Water Authority, discusses a number of ethics issues, including: 1) How to successfully advocate for transparency 2) How to protect your company's reputation when other similar brands are having ethics failures 3) Why we need to keep ethics front and center

    Ethical Issues with Coalitions and Front Groups – Greg Bailey

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2022 18:18


    Joining me in this week's episode is Greg Bailey, APR, Fellow PRSA, the founder of Finley + Bailey Strategic Communication. He discusses a number of important public relations ethics issues including: 1) What to do when a client asks you to hide their identity as part of a coalition 2) Why we need top to turn the mirror on ourselves 3) The growing challenge of malformation 4) How to make sure your employees understand how you value ethics

    The ethical challenges of weaponized communication – Elizabeth Edwards

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2022 27:56


    Elizabeth Edwards, the founder of Volume PR and the Engagement Science Lab, discusses a number of important issues, including: 1) The ethical challenges of weaponized communication 2) Avoiding thought-terminating cliches 3) What is the one tool or word, PR pros should retire 4) Why we need to think of meaning, not just tactics

    Too many beers: ethics and client conflicts – Ken Kerrigan

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2022 25:14


    This week on Ethical Voices, Ken Kerrigan, a Vice President at Infinite Global, discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) Too many beers – Ethics and client conflicts 2) Can corporations really be ethical media enterprises? 3) The death of truth and the need for regulation

    Paddle your own ethical canoe – Filomena Fanelli

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2022 14:43


    This week on EthicalVoices, Filomena Fanelli, CEO of Impact PR & Communications discusses a number of important ethical issues, including: 1) Why we need to trust but verify 2) How to make your employees understand and live your values 3) Ethics and predatory lending

    How to Effectively Counsel Those That Want to Make Unethical Decisions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2022 17:14


    Cathy Morley Foster, the principal at Morley Foster Consulting, discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) How to effectively counsel those that want to make unethical decisions 2) The importance of expertise and common sense

    The ethical importance of knowing when to say “No” – Natasha Koifman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2022 13:07


    Natasha Koifman, President of NKPR, one of Canada's most powerful and innovative women in public relations discusses a number of important ethics issues including: 1) The ethical importance of knowing when to say “No” 2) How to empower your employees to make tough ethical decisions 3) The blurring of paid and owned media

    The Role of Ethical Leadership in Building Influence: A Female Perspective

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2022 19:42


    Dr. Juan Meng, the Associate Professor of Public Relations at the University of Georgia, and Dr. Marlene Neill, APR, Fellow PRSA, an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director at Baylor University, share insights from a recent journal article they authored titled The Role of Ethical Leadership in Building Influence: Perspectives from Female Public Relations Professionals.

    How Can Old School Strategies Counter Disinformation? - Ellen Crane

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2022 12:25


    Ellen Crane, APR, Fellow PRSA. founder of Women Elevated, addresses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) What to do when your ethical values diverge from your employer's values? 2) How can old school strategies  counter disinformation

    Ethical Issues in Merging the Science and Art of Public Relations: Aaron Kwittken

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2022 18:57


    Aaron Kwittken, the founder and chairman of KWT Global and the founder of PRophet, discusses:  1) An issue he still regrets not speaking up on 30 years ago 2) Ethical issues in merging the science and art of public relations 3) How augmented intelligence can help enhance our profession 4) How do we create belonging in a hybrid environment?

    What Ethics Lessons Can We Learn from Ted Lasso? EthicalVoices Interview with Dan Farkas

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2022 18:03


    Dan Farkas, a lecturer of strategic communication at the Ohio State University, discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) Why we need to think slow cooker rather than Instant Pot when it comes to PR measurement 2) How can you ethically blend empathy and accountability? 3) What is the most engaging PRSA ethics case study? 4) What ethics lessons can we learn from Ted Lasso?

    What To Do When a Competitor Intentionally Causes Panic – Rick Batyko

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2022 16:17


    Rick Batyko, the chief marketing officer for the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) What to do when your competitor intentionally causes panic 2) How to effectively fight disinformation 3) What the PR industry needs to do next

    The Need for Accountability – Laura Tomasetti

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 17:31


    Laura Tomasetti, the founder and CEO of 360PR+. Laura discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) Why you always have a choice 2) How to make sure everyone understands your mission and values 3) The need for the industry to hold itself accountable

    What do you do when you fire a client who has prepaid you?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2021 16:51


    Lisa Gerber, the CEO of Big Leap Creative and host of Breaking Trail podcast. She discusses a number of important issues, including: 1) What do you do when you fire a client who has prepaid you? 2) Building trust through stories 3) Why telling the right story is even more important than telling a story well

    Why businesses need to stick to their purpose and avoid wokewashing

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2021 21:57


    Rebekah Iliff, a writer, humorist, and the founder of WriteVest, a writers' collective focused on developing thoughtful, creative invoice, and voice-driven content for brands discusses: 1) A shotgun isn't the answer. What to do when your competitor copies your language and claims 2) Why businesses need to stick to their purpose and avoid wokewashing 3) Fighting vanity metrics

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