The day that PR becomes regulated like a financial services product or household utility will be the day I go for an early bus pass.
The House of Lords Communications Committee this week released its report on the future of the media, in which it described investigative journalism as vital to democracy. That’s alright then.
On the face of it the timing of the report was no surprise, in the wake of much phone-tapping hysteria, resignations, closures and Leveson frenzy.
But the worrying part was the report’s reference to not journalism but PR as a threat to democracy; claiming that PR is unchecked and without a comprehensive system of self-regulation.
I’m right behind the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Public Relations Consultants’ Association, who have happily called half time on their differences to jointly slam this suggestion.
I’m proud to be a Fellow of the Chartered Institute with its robust Code of Conduct – I sit on Council with some members of the disciplinary committee and trust me I don’t want to appear before them any time soon.
More so, I believe that any PR practitioner worth their salt is strictly self-regulating, not least to safeguard their own reputation as well as that of their employer (if in-house), consultancy and clients.
A free and open market allows creative, constructive and professional PR practice to thrive outside of the confines of the regulator’s shackles – and long may it continue!
Posted by Steve.