CIPR Election: Transparency and voice
I’m standing for President of the CIPR in 2014. I’ve set out ten words and ten pledges that I would focus on during my period in office. Here’s a Slideshare summary of my ten words and ten pledges.
The election kicks off next Tuesday 7 May and runs through to 21 May. Watch out for the election email and please ensure that you vote.
Throughout the election period I’ve been blogging two of my words and pledges each week and answering any questions that have been raised by members.
Last week was social and lobby. In this final week I’m onto my final two pledges and words: transparency and voice.
Transparency
All members of the CIPR agree to abide by its Code of Ethics when they sign up as members. The Professional Practices Committee (PPC) deals with complaints and has the authority to expel members that break the code.
The work of the PPC is under reported. It operates quietly and discretely. That’s right and proper, but we need call out examples of industry bad practice as a means of defining the standard by with CIPR members operate.
This is exactly what PPC co-chair Sarah Hall did last week in a blog post about the legal case that involved two practitioners (non-CIPR members) embezzling nearly £19,000 from Activision.
This is a defining Charter commitment. Employers need to know that if they employ a CIPR member they get a practitioner committed to CPD that operates within best practice guidelines.
The CIPR must continue to be an open and transparent organisation working in the public interest.
Voice
My call to displace Max Clifford as the mouthpiece of the public relations industry has attracted more comment than any other of my 10 words and 10 pledges.
Clifford doesn’t represent me when he speaks on a public relations issue. It’s simply not acceptable that he represents our profession in the popular media.
The ongoing Operation Yewtree investigation may deliver this pledge sooner than I envisaged. Whatever happens, as President I will promote the expertise of our own communicators to the media through social media such as blogs and Twitter, and via speaking opportunities.
Questions and Answers
Ged Carol has blogged about the CIPR election on his PRWeek blog suggesting that the new President needs to be a catalyst for change.
Neville Hobson invited me to join him on For Immediate Release this week as a guest. We spoke about the Associated Press Twitter hack, UK versus US political campaigning, international public relations and Share This Too book.
Admiral PR, the regional agency that I chair, has run a Q&A about my ambition, motivation and vision for the CIPR.
Bournemouth University’s Professor Tom Watson raised some interesting issues about creativity in public relations on his blog. He asks whether public relations should be part of the creative economy.
I did an audio interview with PR Moment ahead of the PR is Changing conference this Thursday. I’m speaking about the future skills requirements of public relations teams.
The discussions in the CIPR LinkedIn group remain noisy and engaging. Finally, Andrew Smith has blogged about the importance of voting in this election.
If you have any other questions please get in touch either via the comments below or email.
