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This longitudinal study examines changes in the moral identity of 48 emerging-adult U.S. college graduates in media-related fields from their first year after college to three years later as they progressed into early work life. Results from four moral psychology survey instruments reflect significant shifts in moral reasoning, relativistic thinking and idealism, coupled with stability in personality traits and character strengths. A fifth instrument found largely positive assessments of workplace ethical climate. The findings suggest that emerging adulthood is an important time for the development of a robust professional moral self that is characterized by growing maturity in moral judgment that intersects with a foundation of character developed through a variety of influences before, during and after college. Findings have significant implications for young practitioners entering the workplace, media managers working with them, and media pedagogy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study explored how 54 U.S.-based public relations practitioners engaged in ethical listening. Findings of the study suggest that public relations professionals engage in ethical listening by drawing upon deontological concepts of dignity and respect, implementing care-centered concepts of empathy and inherent connection to others, modeling inclusivity and attentiveness to diverse perspectives, practicing accountability to ethical listening, and remaining humble. Models depicting organizational listening should consider inclusion of ethical values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Listening remains an understudied concept in public relations, particularly with consideration for the complex intersecting identities and lived experiences of publics. Through 38 interviews with nonprofit and governmental professionals, this study sought to fill the dearth of applied research on listening and intersectionality and to develop an intersectional framework for listening in public relations. One research question guided this exploratory, qualitative study: How do public relations professionals embody listening with consideration for intersectionality? Findings suggest that public relations professionals across nonprofit and governmental contexts described listening with consideration for intersectionality via personal reflexivity, interpersonal sensitivity, organizational programs and initiatives, and community and coalitional collaboration. From these insights, a framework for listening with consideration for intersectionality in public relations is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this qualitative study is to answer calls to examine social media, ethical engagement, and marginalized publics. Findings suggest that strategic communication and public relations professionals ethically engage marginalized individuals on social media by a) embodying an ethic of care emphasizing compassion and respect, b) listening with sensitivity, c) considering marginalized individuals' unique privacy and anonymity needs, d) ensuring transparency and accuracy of messaging, and e) forging trusting relationships through an embodiment of authenticity. Ultimately, this study suggests that social media practice must continue to advance care-based ethical social media engagement of marginalized publics in ways that relate to them as unique individuals deserving of compassion and empathy – beyond mere codes of ethics or universal, duty-based philosophies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public relations industry is increasingly focusing on evaluation and transparency of its activities. Despite this focus, an "evaluation" component is missing from many ethical decision-making models. Thus, this qualitative study of 22 public relations professionals asked How do public relations professionals evaluate or reflect upon ethical decisions? Five themes signaled that practitioners evaluate ethical decisions by conducting "gut checks," asking questions, considering society, reflecting on core values, and considering the public's feedback. Findings suggest that professionals evaluate decisions on personal, organizational, and societal levels. Experience in the field, age, and personal intuitions are also factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study examined the role of ethics in public relations evaluation and the ethical issues that complicate the evaluation process. Findings suggest that the role of ethics in evaluation is integral, centered on truth, focused on benefiting an organization's publics or, in contrast, irrelevant. Ethical issues regarding evaluation include manipulation of evaluation data and use of tainted data to persuade clients or publics. This study further exposes an ethical conflict where professionals prioritize duty, truthfulness, and precision, yet face constraints on their ethical autonomy or selectively represent evaluation data to cultivate client relationships or corporate image. Increased sensitivity to online contexts and descriptive theorizing of ethics are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]