Business Ethics: An Oxymoron?

Why do I believe good PR and business ethics are inextricably linked? It comes down to definitions. Ethics is learning what is right and what is wrong and then doing the "right thing." PR involves providing counsel on the "right thing" to do and then helping the organization get credit for it.

The business and political excess of the last 10 years have taken some PR practitioners to the dark side because they felt it was the only way for their company to profit. Although I personally believe doing right for right's sake is enough, there are some who may not share this view. OK, here's a reason that any good capitalist can embrace: research now shows that socially responsible behavior is good for the bottom line.

A recent analysis of overall financial performance of the 2001 list of 100 Best Corporate Citizens shows that this group of firms did significantly better than the remaining companies of the S&P 500. Professors at DePaul University found that the mean ranking of the 100 Best was more than 10 percentile higher than the other firms of the S&P 500.

Additionally, they had a significantly better reputation among corporate directors and security analysts based upon results of the Fortune Magazine survey of most admired companies.

So, you see, it really does pay to do the right thing.

Harry Hoover is managing principal of Hoover ink PR. He has 26 years of experience in crafting and delivering bottom line messages that ensure success for serious businesses like Brent Dees Financial Planning, Levolor, New World Mortgage, North Carolina Tourism, TeamHeidi, Ty Boyd Executive Learning Systems, VELUX, Verbatim and Youth Link USA.

New York Times
Saratoga revamps code of ethics for campaigning
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 14 hours ago
The council voted at its July 2 meeting to adopt a city campaign code of ethics and create a "last chance" campaign forum so candidates can reply to any ...
A Nice Night for Attending a Fund-Raiser New York Times
all 3 news articles

WDTV
Ethics Commission begins degree probe
Charleston Gazette,  USA - 4 hours ago
By Veronica Nett The state Ethics Commission has begun an inquiry into WVU administrators' actions during a degree scandal involving Heather Bresch, Gov. ...
State ethics commission probes WVU degree scandal Olberlin
West Virginia U. Hires Former Chief of Land-Grant Association as ... Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription)
URGENT — WVU names Magrath interim president Times-West Virginian
Huntington Herald Dispatchall 180 news articles

Chairman proposes ethics reform
Victorville Daily Press, CA - 7 hours ago
SAN BERNARDINO — A wide-ranging ethics reform plan was discussed at the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday that Chairman Paul Biane ...
Supervisors to look at ethics amendment Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Proposed SB County charter amendment on ethics being modified Press-Enterprise
Aleman quits San Bernardino Sun
Washington Post - NBC 4.comall 13 news articles

Orange unanimously OKs ethics, finance reforms
Orlando Sentinel, FL - 4 hours ago
Orange County commissioners unanimously approved ethics and campaign-finance reforms late Tuesday — a package that some residents and government watchdog ...
Complaint targets vote to buy land by Orange Orlando Sentinel
all 2 news articles

Jindal vetoes bill on ethics exceptions
2TheAdvocate, LA - 4 hours ago
Bobby Jindal vetoed legislation Tuesday that would have created new exceptions to state ethics laws. In his veto message, Jindal said the general thrust of ...
Monsters among us Tri Parish Times
all 2 news articles

Panel sees no ethics breach for lawmaker
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL - 52 minutes ago
The state elections commission and ethics commission are still reviewing the issue. The complaint was filed by Robert Anderson, a Lehigh Acres resident and ...
State Rep. Kreegel cleared of election violations The News-Press
all 9 news articles

Ethics Committee reprimands Netanyahu over London trip
Jerusalem Post, Israel - 15 hours ago
By REBECCA ANNA STOIL The Knesset Ethics Committee reprimanded opposition leader MK Binyamin Netanyahu during a closed-door meeting Tuesday during which ...
Knesset panel admonishes Netanyahu for London spending spree Ha'aretz
all 3 news articles

TPM
Two Former DOJ Lawyers Face Bar Ethics Complaints
The BLT, DC - 13 hours ago
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a watchdog group, has filed complaints with the DC and Virginia bars against two attorneys accused of ...
CREW Files Bar Complaints Against Former Justice Dept. Officials ... Common Dreams (press release)
Watchdog Group Files Bar Complaints Against Former Justice Officials AHN
CREW files bar complaints against former loyal Bushies at DOJ. Think Progress
all 8 news articles

Washington Co. BOE considers stricter ethics policy
Hagerstown Morning Herald, MD - 11 hours ago
Ridenour said board members have been ethical without the help of a revised ethics policy, and he believes they can continue to do so. ...

Perr and Pelios apologize to Merkt over ethics charge
Politicker, NY - 13 hours ago
By Matt Friedman Two Democrats today publicly withdrew an ethics complaint they filed against Assemblyman Richard Merkt (R-Morris) last year. ...

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Business Ethics