Ethics Information

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.


MORE RESOURCES:

USA TODAY

Dems keeping a close eye on GOP ethics cases
USA TODAY
Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., is the subject of an inquiry by the Office of Congressional Ethics. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., is the subject of an inquiry by the Office of Congressional Ethics. The latest came Thursday when it was reported that the Office ...
Lawmaker's stock trades draw ethics investigationBoston.com
Speaker Boehner faces ethics dilemma with Bachus investigationThe Hill
Ethics panel looking at lawmaker's stock tradesCBS News
BusinessWeek
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Kansas City Star

Britain's media ethics inquiry: the story so far
CBS News
The first phase of Britain's media ethics inquiry ended this week after 40 days of dramatic hearings that heard from 184 witnesses _ celebrities, journalists, editors, academics and lawyers _ and revealed wildly differing perspectives on the murky ...
Staff at The Sun tabloid arrested in bribe inquirySeattle Post Intelligencer

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9NEWS.com

Ethics case dropped against Rep. Laura Bradford; she says she'll stick with GOP
Denver Post
By Lynn Bartels A 15-day uproar over a lawmaker's traffic stop ended Friday after her peers dismissed a drinking-related ethics complaint against the Mesa County Republican. Rep. Laura Bradford confirmed she wasn't switching parties, and House Speaker ...
Ethics Investigation Dropped In State Rep's Traffic StopKMGH Denver
Bradford ethics probe should go onCanon City Daily Record
Ethics panel to decide whether to continue review of Colo. lawmaker's traffic stopThe Republic
Fox 31 KDVR.com -Grand Junction Sentinel -KKCO-TV
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Jindal suggests ethics changes
The Daily Advertiser
Bobby Jindal has agreed with the Board of Ethics that some changes are needed to strengthen enforcement and clarify authority to enforce the Code of Ethics. But the governor's plans for change to be filed in the legislative session that starts March 12 ...
Jindal to put forth ethics law packageThe Advocate

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NewsNet5.com

Consultants suggest OSU hire ethics czar: College Notebook
Plain Dealer
By Plain Dealer wire services A report given to an Ohio State Board of Trustees' committee Thursday recommends that the university hire a vice president to oversee a new office and new committee responsible for monitoring ethics and rules compliance ...
Report says Ohio State needs ethics officeFox News
Report: Ohio State needs ethics officeESPN
Report: OSU needs VP for complianceIronton Tribune

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Lying to Patients: No Huge Ethical Failure, Says Bioethicist
Medscape
I am Art Caplan, and I am at the University of Pennsylvania in the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy. Today I would like to talk to you about a pretty thorny subject and one that is fascinating because it is so ethically rich: Should ...

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CBS Local

Maryland Ethics Panel Suggests Reducing Local Disclosure
NBC4 Washington (blog)
By Brian Witte, AP A panel of state senators reviewing Maryland ethics rules decided Friday to recommend local government officials should not be required to release as much information in financial disclosure forms as officials in state government.
Md. panel reviewing changes to ethics rules for lawmakers to meetWashington Post
Bill would require online disclosureBaltimore Sun (blog)
Ethics panel suggests reducing local disclosureDaily Record (subscription)

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WABE

Watchdog groups demand more money for ethics board
Atlanta Journal Constitution
By Chris Joyner A coalition of watchdog groups said Friday cuts to the state ethics commission's budget have hobbled the agency and resulted in a backlog of unresolved complaints. Jason Getz, jgetz@ajc.com With the State Capitol in the background, ...
Advocates push for ethics fundingWABE

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Sen. Beavers and judges at odds over ethics panel
The Tennessean
AP A plan backed by Tennessee judges that would change the ethics panel that disciplines jurists is at odds with arguably the judiciary's biggest critic in the legislature — Sen. Mae Beavers. The differences in opinion came out this week at a debate ...
Beavers, judges still at oddsWDEF News 12

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MLive.com

Ficano revamps ethics policy
Detroit Free Press
Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano announces an ethics policy only for his appointees. / KATHLEEN GALLIGAN/Detroit Free Press By John Wisely Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano announced a new ethics policy Thursday, prohibiting actions such as ...
Wayne County Statement on ethics policyWDIV Detroit
Ficano to issue ethics reformsThe Detroit News
Ficano announces ethics reforms in wake of FBI probeMichigan Radio
The Republic
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