Johanna Fawkes Research

Professional ethics are often confusing, over descriptive or unclear. Some approaches concentrate on situations or quandaries; others make vague generalisations about ‘serving society’. I encourage groups or individuals to reflect on their idea of themselves as professionals as a way of exploring the contradictions that often make ethical decision making so hard. For example, in public relations there is much confusion about whether the primary loyalty is to client/employer or wider society. Codes of ethics usually emphasise the latter; practitioners the former.

There is rising interest in ethical training – whether to protect reputations or improve trust – and I offer one-day or half-day ethics training sessions, tailored to the needs of the organisation, agency or group. The goal is to encourage discussion and reflection, not to lay down any laws. Simply asking, are we sure about that?, may make all the difference.