Getting started - The Chartered Institute of Public Relations

So. Where to start? And why am I doing this?

I have worked in public relations and marketing for over ten years and I am extremely passionate about the industry. This blog will feature lots of practical tips to help others starting out in the industry, or small businesses, who want to tackle their own PR and marketing. There are lots of books on communications theory but not many on the practicality of doing it yourself or how to hire an agency to do it for you. This blog is aimed at helping you do just that!

Anyway, back to my first entry. Well, I think the best place to get this blog started is by presenting you with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations' (http://www.cipr.co.uk/) definition of PR and their code of conduct. I was a member of this great institution when I worked in the UK and I am now a global affiliate.

CIPR's definition of PR

Public relations is about reputation - the result of what you do, what you say and what others say about you.

Public relations is the discipline which looks after reputation, with the aim of earning understanding and support and influencing opinion and behaviour. It is the planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain goodwill and mutual understanding between an organisation and its publics.

PR is not just about writing press releases for the media. It is a great deal more and I will discuss this in more detail in later entries....

Meanwhile, take a look at this. The CIPR code is essential reading for anyone who wants to do PR successfully and professionally.

Members of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations agree to:

Maintain the highest standards of professional endeavour, integrity, confidentiality, financial propriety and personal conduct;

Deal honestly and fairly in business with employers, employees, clients, fellow professionals, other professions and the public;

Respect the customs, practices and codes of clients, employers, colleagues, fellow professionals and other professions in all countries where they practise;

Take all reasonable care to ensure employment best practice including giving no cause for complaint of unfair discrimination on any grounds;

Work within the legal and regulatory frameworks affecting the practice of public relations in all countries where they practise;
Encourage professional training and development among members of the profession;

Respect and abide by this Code and related Notes of Guidance issued by the Institute of Public Relations and encourage others to do the same.


More on reputation, integrity and accuracy in future entries....