The Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association recently hosted a half-day seminar, “How to Practice PR Without Losing Your Soul,”featuring ethics experts in public relations, human resources, and healthy corporate culture. Approximately 50 communications professionals were in attendance to learn and network.
Keynote speaker was Dick Martin, author and former public relations lead at AT&T. Martin’s workshops have been in high demand across the nation: with the increasing emergence of “fake news” and online misinformation, professional ethics has become a hot topic. His latest co-authored book, “Public Relations Ethics: How to Practice PR Without Losing Your Soul,” is a practical guide to developing a framework for ethical decision-making. Martin was one of the first recipients of the Arthur W. Page Center’s Award for Integrity in Public Communication.
The workshop included three breakout sessions that provided guidelines and information for harnessing the highest professional integrity and ethical standards in the workplace: Attorney Anne Chapman of Blalock Walters presented “Ethics in the Workplace;” award-winning communications professional Ginger Broslat, APR, CPRC, discussed “Learning to Walk with Ethical Integrity”; and Roger Pynn, APR, CPRC, Senior Counsel for Curley & Pynn, discussed “Old Ethics in New Media.”
“We are very pleased at the success of this year’s half-day seminar, which offered our attendees much to think about in terms of their own professional conduct as well as actions they can take to ensure they are part of more ethical workplaces,” said CWC-FPRA president Tara Poulton. “Ethical integrity is a cornerstone of the association, and we are committed to sharing, setting and maintaining the highest standards in the ever-changing world of communications and PR.”
Prior to the event, the local chapter presented a ceremonial check to Ryan Gerds, APR, CPRC, president of the state chapter of FPRA. The funds, earned by the local chapter through membership rebates from the state office, are being reinvested in local members in the form of scholarships to the FPRA’s conference in August.
The Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association meets monthly for professional development luncheons and networking. Visit www.cwcfpra.com for more information.
At the CWC-FPRA half-day seminar on ethics were keynote speaker Dick Martin, CWC-FPRA president Tara Poulton, and speaker Attorney Anne Chapman.
About FPRA
The Florida Public Relations Association is dedicated to developing public relations practitioners who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida. The organization’s 15 professional and 12 student chapters provide professional development, networking and recognition opportunities for nearly 1,500 members across the state. FPRA is the nation’s oldest public relations organization, established by Lt. Col. John Dillin, APR, CPRC in 1938. For more information, visit www.fpra.org.