MEPRA Code of Conduct

As with any professional association, any member of MEPRA whether individual or agency signs up to a Code of Conduct and/or a Code of Practice (agency) both of which are posted below for ease of access.  The Association expects all members to abide by the code which they sign up to on registration of membership and are then periodically renewed. Individual Code of Conduct 1. Advocacy and Honesty A member shall: i. Provide independent, objective counsel for clients or employers ii. Promote the ethical, well-founded views of clients or employers iii. Be honest and accurate in all communications – and act promptly to correct erroneous communications. iv. Avoid deceptive practices 2. Balancing Openness and Privacy A member shall: i. Promote open communication in the public interest wherever possible. ii. Respect the rights of others to have their say iii. Be prepared to name clients or employers represented and the sponsors for causes and interests represented iv. Safeguard the confidences and privacy rights of present, former and prospective clients and employers 3. Conflicts of Interest A member shall: i. Disclose promptly any existing or potential conflict of interest to affected clients or organisations ii. Disclose any client or business interest in published or broadcast editorial work. 4. Law Abiding A member shall: i. Abide by the laws affecting the practice of public relations and the laws and regulations affecting the client. 5. Professionalism A member shall: i. Actively pursue personal professional development ii. Explain realistically what public relations activities can accomplish. iii. Counsel colleagues on ethical decision-making. iv. Decline representation of clients or organisations that urge or require actions contrary to this code v. Not engage in irrelevant or unsubstantiated personal criticism. Registered Agency Code of Practice 1. General A Registered Agency shall 1.1 Have a positive duty to observe the highest standards in the practice of public relations and where relevant share best codes of practice. Furthermore a Registered Agency member has the responsibility at all times to deal fairly and honestly with clients, past and present, fellow members and professionals, the public relations profession, other professions, suppliers, intermediaries, the media of communication, employees, and above all else, the public. 1.2 Be expected to be aware of, understand and observe this Code, any amendment to it, and any other codes which shall be incorporated into this code, and to remain up-to-date with the content and recommendations of any guidance or practice papers issued by MEPRA, and shall have a duty to conform to good practice as expressed in such guidance or practice papers. 1.3 Uphold this Code and co-operate with fellow members in so doing by enforcing decisions on any matter arising from its application. A Registered Agency that knowingly causes or permits a member of its staff to act in a manner inconsistent with this Code is party to such action and shall be deemed to be in breach of it. Any member of staff of a member company who acts in a manner inconsistent with this code must be disciplined by the employer. 1.4 Comply with the membership criteria of MEPRA. A Registered Agency shall neither 1.5 Engage in any practice nor be seen to conduct itself in any manner detrimental to the reputation of the Association, its member firms, or the reputation and interests of the public relations profession, including respect for intellectual property. 2. Conduct towards the public, the media and other professionals A Registered Agency shall 2.1 Conduct its professional activities with proper regard to the public interest. 2.2 Have a positive duty at all times to respect the truth and shall not disseminate false or misleading information knowingly or recklessly, and to use proper care to avoid doing so inadvertently. 2.3 Have a duty to ensure that the actual interest of any organisation with which it may be professionally concerned is adequately declared. 2.4 When working in association with other professionals identify and respect the codes of these professions and shall not knowingly be party to any breach of such codes. 2.5 To the best of the Registered Agency’s ability, cause the names of all shareholder, directors, executives and retained consultants who hold government or public office to be recorded in the relevant section of the MEPRA charter. 2.6 Honour confidences received or given in the course of professional activity. 2.7 Neither propose nor undertake any action which would constitute an improper influence on organs of government, or on legislation, or on the media of communication. 2.8 Neither offer nor give, nor cause a client to offer or give, any inducement to persons holding public office or members of any statutory body or organisation such as the media who are not directors, executives or retained consultants, with intent to further the interests of the client if such action is inconsistent with the public interest. 2.9 Pay its bills according to contract terms. 3. Conduct towards clients A Registered Agency shall 3.1 Safeguard the confidences of both present and former clients and shall not disclose or use these confidences, to the disadvantage or prejudice of such clients or to the financial advantage of the member firm, unless the client has released such information for public use, or has given specific permission for its disclosure; except upon the order of a court of law. 3.2 Inform a client of any shareholding or financial interest held by that firm or any member of that firm in any company, firm or person whose services it recommends. 3.3 Be free to accept fees, commissions or other valuable considerations from persons other than a client, only provided such considerations are disclosed to the client. 3.4 Be free to negotiate with a client, terms that take into account factors other than hours worked and seniority of staff involved. These special factors, which are also applied by other professional advisers, shall have regard to all the circumstances of the specific situation and in particular to: (a) The complexity of the issue, case, problem or assignment, and the difficulties associated with its completion. (b) The professional or specialised skills and the seniority levels of staff engaged, the time spent and the degree of responsibility involved. (c) The amount of documentation necessary to be perused or prepared, and its importance (d) The place and circumstances where the assignment is carried out in whole or in part. (e) The scope, scale and value of the task, and its importance as an issue or project to the client. A registered agency shall not: 3.5 Misuse information regarding its client’s business for financial or other gain. 3.6 Use inside information for gain. Nor may a consultancy, its members or staff directly invest in their clients’ securities without the prior written permission of the client and of the member’s chief executive or chief financial officer or compliance officer. 3.7 Serve a client under terms or conditions which might impair its independence, objectivity or integrity. 3.8 Represent conflicting or competing interests without the express consent of the clients concerned. 3.9 Guarantee the achievement of results that are beyond the member’s direct capacity to achieve or prevent. 3.10 Invite any employee of a client advised by the member to consider alternative employment; (an advertisement in the press is not considered to be an invitation to any particular person). 4. Conduct towards colleagues A registered agency shall 4.1 Adhere to the highest standards of accuracy and truth, avoiding extravagant claims or unfair comparisons and giving credit for ideas and words borrowed from others. 4.2 Take reasonable precautions to protect the reputation of MEPRA Registered Agencies when recruiting individuals previously employed by other MEPRA Registered Agencies, and make such individuals aware of the MEPRA Code of Conduct 4.3 Be free to represent its capabilities and services to any potential client, either on its own initiative or at the behest of the client, provided in so doing it does not seek to break any existing contract or detract from the reputation or capabilities of any member consultancy already serving that client. A registered agency shall not 4.4 Injure the professional reputation or practice of another member, or encourage or permit an individual employee to do so 5.  Discriminatory conduct A member is required to take all reasonable care that professional duties are conducted without causing offence on the grounds of gender, race, religion, disability or any other form of discrimination or unacceptable reference.