Code of Professional Conduct

This Code defines and implements Rule 4 (i) of the Constitution of the Institute of Public Relations under the heading “Objects”, namely to encourage and foster the observance of high professional standards by its members and to establish and prescribe such standards. Public Relations is concerned with the effect of conduct on reputation. The following principles have been laid down to embody this concept and enhance relations between the Institute’s members and the public to whom they are directly or indirectly responsible in the performance of their duties.

1. A member shall conduct his professional activities with respect for the public interest.
2. A member shall at all times deal fairly and honestly with his client or employers past or present, with his fellow members and with the general public.
3. A member shall not intentionally disseminate false or misleading information, and shall use proper care to avoid doing so. He has a positive duty to maintain truth, accuracy and good taste.
4. A member shall not engage in any practice, which tends to corrupt the integrity of channels of public communication.
5. A member shall not create or make use of any organisation purporting to serve some announced cause but actually promoting a special or private interest of a member or his client or his employer which is not apparent.
6. A member shall safeguard the confidences of both present and former clients and employers. He shall not disclose except upon the order of a court of competent jurisdiction any confidential information, which he may have obtained in his official capacity without securing and making known the consent of the said client or employer.
7. A member shall not represent conflicting or competing interests without the express consent of those concerned given after full disclosure of the facts.
8. A member in performing services for a client or employer shall not accept fees, commissions or any other valuable consideration in connection with those services from any one other than his client or employer unless such practice is acceptable to the client or employer.
9. A member shall not cause or allow to be done anything for the purpose of touting or advertising calculated to attract business unfairly.
10. A member shall not propose to a prospective client or employer that his fee or other compensation be contingent on the achievement of certain results; nor shall he enter into any fee agreement to the same effect.
11. A member shall not intentionally injure the professional reputation or practice of another member, but if such a member has evidence that another member has been guilty of unethical, illegal or unfair practices it shall be his duty to inform the Institute in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles.
12. A member shall not engage in or be connected with any occupation or business, which, in the opinion of the Council, is not consistent with membership of the Institute.
13. A member shall not seek to supplant another member with his employer or client, nor shall he encroach upon the professional employment of another member unless both parties are assured that there is no conflict of interest involved, and are kept advised of the negotiations.
14. A member shall cooperate with fellow members in upholding and enforcing this Code.