About Us
Maintaining High Ethical Standards
Strong ethical standards play a critical role in establishing trust and confidence in any professional discipline and Public Relations is no exception.
Like many professions, there are no laws that require public relations practitioners to be registered, licensed or accredited. Consequently there are no statutory penalties for misconduct or professional negligence as a public relations practitioner.
As the peak industy body, PRIA plays a leading and essential role in industry self-regulation, with a series of tough Codes and Standards governing members' ethical and professional practice.
Individual Code of Ethics
All PRIA members are required to make a personal, written commitment to a stringent Code of Ethics, governed by a senior group of practitioners known as the College of Fellows.
Consultancy Code of Practice
Consultancy members are also governed by the Code of Ethics. To be eligible for Registered Consultancy status, the PR agency principal must be a full professional member of the PRIA.
Consultancy members are also bound by an additional Code of Practice covering client relations, fees and income and general practice.
Complaints procedure
The PRIA has a nationally uniform procedure for dealing in a professional, rigorous and fair manner with allegations of breaches of the Code of Ethics, with requests for investigation of dubious practices, and, of course, with proven complaints.