Public Relations, ethics & sardines

There was a time, before the rise of social media and user generated content when organisations could get away with scurrilous acts of consumer extortion safe in the knowledge that the muted customer had few ways to hit back other than writing to Watch Dog.

Then came user generated content, forums, websites like ‘ihatedell’ and this week the magnificent ‘www.trainsardine.org’ a platform for commuters to complain about the million pounds a week they pay to travel like sardines in this country. As a result, ethics suddenly has an elevated place at the board room table because a lack of them can now seriously damage a company’s profits.

A point Danny Rogers makes in PR Week this week, underlining the now close association of ethics and PR. He says: “Ultimately, comms staff can tell the wider world about what has been achieved. Indeed they can do so more effectively if they were involved all along. They can even inspire others organisations to do likewise. In other words, PR can be a force for the wider good.”

Makes you proud doesn’t it.