IPRA Code of Athens—The first international code of public relations ethics: Its development and implementation since 1965.

In 1965, the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) adopted the International Code of Ethics, which became known as the Code of Athens ( IPRA, 2001 ). The Code was authored by Lucien Matrat, a French public relations pioneer, and reflected a hopeful, post-World War 2 ethical framework with its strong linkage to the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 ( IPRA, 1994 ). A code of ethics was an early strategic imperative of IPRA, established 10 years before, and was coupled with a Code of Conduct, known as the Code of Venice of 1961 ( IPRA, 1961, 2009 ). Both codes were adopted by many national public relations associations and widely promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]