EthicalVoices

Mark McClennan, APR, Fellow PRSA
  • 4.8 (5)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Real ethics stories from real communication pros

  1. JAN 12

    Climate, Truth, and the Ethics of Saying No

    Joining me on this week's episode of Ethical Voices is  Mike Farber, the co-founder of GreenStory. He discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) Why the most important ethics decision happens before you hire a person or client 2) Why "It's legal" is one of the most dangerous phrases in communications 3) Why comms leaders must reclaim the truth

    17 min

  2. JAN 5

    Somebody Has to Ask the Question: Mentorship, AI, and Ethical Courage

    This week on Ethical Voices, Kristin Amico, a writer, editor, content strategist, and the most traveled person I know discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: ·       Why most ethics failures don't start with scandals ·       What the "Wild West" of AI really looks like inside organizations under pressure to perform ·       How fear, job insecurity, and "do more with less" environments quietly undermine ethical decision-making ·       Why mentorship is the most effective ethics safeguard for junior staff

    17 min

  3. 10/20/2025

    Why Communicators Deserve the Same Privilege as Lawyers

    This week on EthicalVoices, Amie Hoffner, Vice President of Corporate Communications at American Dairy Queen Corporation, shares why communicators need the same protections as attorney–client privilege — and how to stay ethical when the lines between PR, marketing, and media blur. She discusses: ·         Why communicators should have the same legal protections as lawyers ·         How to avoid "on background" disasters  ·         Why trusting your gut isn't enough ·         How to counsel executives in media interviews ·         Why crisis simulations should include an ethical dilemma

    25 min

  4. 08/04/2025

    Lessons from a PR Legend: Dick Martin on Ethics, Accountability, and Finding the Hard Truths

    Dick Martin, the retired Chief Communication Officer for AT&T and Chairman of the Board of the PR Museum, discusses a number of important ethics issues, including: 1) How a single racist cartoon exposed deeper organizational issues and sparked meaningful change 2) Why telling the truth in PR isn't always easy 3) Why strong ethics requires more than good intentions 4) Why you should be careful about getting too clever

    24 min

  5. 07/07/2025

    Fighting Mosquitoes and Misinformation: Ethics in the Public Health Trenches

    This week on Ethical Voices, Tammy Gordon, the (past) public information department manager for the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District. [Editors note: I sat on this interview for way too long and she is now Director of Public Affairs at the Citrus Heights Water District], discusses a number of important ethical issues, including: ·         How to navigate ethical conflict when your job challenges your personal values ·         How to intervene when colleagues prioritize quick fixes over responsible practices ·         How to address unethical behavior without triggering defensiveness ·         Why silence in the face of misinformation is an ethical failure

    19 min

  6. 05/27/2025

    How to Effectively Address Management Decisions that Conflict with Your Values

    This week on Ethical Voices, Carolyn Smith Casertano, MA, APR, Fellow PRSA, professor of practice in the Department of Communication at the University of Arizona, discusses a number of important ethics issues including; 1) How to effectively address management decisions that conflict with your values 2) What to do when a client tries to hire your staff

    20 min

  7. 03/10/2025

    How to Counsel Effectively When Your Client Has a Culturally Insensitive Idea

    Fabiana Meléndez Ruiz, a strategic storyteller serving as the founder and CEO of Refuerzo Collaborative, discusses a number of important ethics issues including: 1) How to counsel effectively when your client has a culturally insensitive idea 2) How can you help organizations go beyond their biases 3) Unexpected ways PR pros fail ethically with the media 4) The most overlooked part of a PR person's job

    18 min

  8. 01/06/2025

    Acting Ethically With Financial Numbers

    Bill Swanger, APR, Fellow PRSA, the founder of William Swanger Communications, shares a number of important ethical issues, including: 1) Why it is important to ethically address financial mistakes and clarify misunderstandings 2) Ethically navigating paid and unpaid content

    23 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
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About

Real ethics stories from real communication pros

Information

  • Creator
    Mark McClennan, APR, Fellow PRSA
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (c) Ethical Voices
  • Show Website
    EthicalVoices