Ethics & PR

There has been so much talk about the government releasing photos of Osama Bin Laden's dead body, and whether or not they should be shown. It is a touchy subject and one that could be looked at as a public relations issue. There are certain ethical standards we must live by as we enter the professional world, and I know that I'm personally dreading the day I have to deal with something like this. This issue made me think of the PRSA Code of Ethics and reminded me that we have to build decisions off of our core values. However, it is confusing when you see both sides of the issue. In the case of Osama Bin Laden's photo's, I see how it can be unethical for our country to release the pictures. It can be conveyed as our President running around showing off his accomplishment, which can come off as insensitive and un-classy. On the flip side, I see that it might be a good public relations move to in fact release the photos because people want to feel satisfied by seeing the visual. Therefore, in the event of an ethical issue, sometimes there is no right decision, but you have to be the one to make the call and decide what is the BEST decision.