The Ethics of Not Answering.

This article focuses on the code of ethics for public relations in business. An article in the January-February 2004 issue of the journal "Columbia Journalism Review," by Trudy Lieberman outlined her perspective of the current sad state of affairs in exchanges between reporters and corporate spokespeople. She lays the blame for this dysfunctional relationship squarely at the foot of media training. Comparing the various codes of ethics and professional standards governing today's business to the concept of not answering questions is an interesting exercise. Article 3 of the Code of Professional Standards of the Canadian Public Relations Society, says that, a member shall practice the highest standards of honesty, accuracy, integrity and truth, and shall not knowingly disseminate false or misleading information. The International Association of Business Communicators code of ethics, says that, professional communicators uphold the credibility and dignity of their profession by practicing honest, candid and timely communication and by fostering the free flow of essential information in accord with the public interest.