Homework: Principles of Public Relations
Topic: Ethics and Freedom of Speech
Review pages 49 and 51 about Edward L. Bernays and his "Torches of Freedom" campaign.
Apply your ethics. Imagine you working at a large PR firm. Your newest client is an electronic cigarette company. The client asks you to help improve public perception of its product, particularly among young adults. You feel that because the long-term health effects are unknown that it violates your ethical responsibility, although nothing the client asks you to do is illegal.
Write 500 to 750 words. Include the following:
a. From an ethical perspective, is the above campaign comparable to Bernays's "Torches of Freedom" campaign or is one potentially more unethical? Why?
b. What aspects of the PRSA Code of Ethics might condemn or support working on this campaign?
c. In a scenario such as this, how does the interaction between freedom of speech and ethical communication play out? Does one take precedence over the other?
d. Would you participate in this campaign? Why or why not?
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
a. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
b. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
c. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.