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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the role of ethics and service learning client work in public relations education. Interviews were conducted with students at three universities who had completed public relations client work. Findings suggest that ethics in client work involves honesty, respect, following personal convictions, bracketing personal values, and balancing ethical values. Students perceived that client work prepared them to be accountable, perform quality work, rely on mentoring, and learn that being ethical takes practice. Ultimately, client work appears to help students explore ethical beliefs and competencies in a realistic environment with assistance.
Keywords qualitative, ethics, public relations, service learning, client work, student
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Author Biography
Katie R. Place (PhD, University of Maryland, 2010; MA, Virginia Tech, 2003) is an assistant professor in the School of Communications and Department of Strategic Communication at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, where she teaches courses in public relations. Dr. Place’s research examines the nexus of gender, power and ethics in public relations. She has authored book chapters and peer-reviewed articles in Journal of Public Relations Research, PRism, Public Relations Review, Journal of Media Ethics, Journal of Communication Management, Public Relations Inquiry, and Routledge Handbook of Critical Public Relations.
