CPRS Public Relations Definition
Public relations is the strategic management of relationships between an organization and its diverse publics, through the use of communication, to achieve mutual understanding, realize organizational goals and serve the public interest.
About us
CPRS Nova Scotia is a member society of the Canadian Public Relations Society, a non-profit professional society for the public relations profession in Canada. CPRS NS has served public relations practitioners in the province since 1957 and is one of 13 member societies across Canada.
Our Rules
All Member Societies adhere to the constitution of the National and Member Society. In cooperation with its regional Member Societies and with like-minded organizations in other countries, CPRS works to advance the professional stature of public relations and regulates its practice for the benefit and protection of the public interest.
Our Goal
CPRS NS is governed by bylaws that uphold the spirit and intent of the national society and is run by a volunteer board of directors. Our goal is to provide our members with professional development opportunities, resources and networking events to ensure they’re well connected to their profession and their peers, locally and nationally.
CPRS NS By-Laws – Amended 2021
National CPRS
The National Canadian Public Relations Society and its members are recognized as the champions for ethical, strategic public relations and communication management.
OUR MISSION
We build a national public relations and communications management community through professional development and accreditation, collaboration with thought leaders, a commitment to ethics and a code of professional standards, advocacy for the profession, and support to members at every stage of their careers.
OUR VALUES
We believe that the ethical and strategic practice of public relations and communications management makes a positive contribution to the profession, our employers and to the communities we serve. As members of CPRS, we are commitment to the following values:
● An Ethical Practice
● A Strategic Practice
● Achieving Mutual Benefit
● Demonstrating Leadership and
● A Commitment to Continuous Learning
Declaration of Principles and Ethics of Professional Conduct
The Canadian Public Relations Society, in setting forth its Declaration of Principles and Ethics of Professional Conduct, strives to:
● affirm that the obligations of a public trust are inherent in the practice of public relations;
● promote and maintain high standards of professional practice and conduct among the membership, so as to ensure that public relations shall be esteemed as an honourable profession;
● safeguard good taste and truthfulness in all material prepared for public dissemination and in all aspects of the public relations practitioner’s operations;
● ensure that membership represents surety of ethical conduct, skill, knowledge and competence in the practice of public relations;
● foster increased attention to public relations as a course of study in universities, colleges, institutes and other similar educational organizations in order to further the proficiency, knowledge and training of anyone engaged in or interested in entering public relations;
● adhere to the Global Protocol on Ethics in Public Relations of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communications; and
● subscribe to the principles of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms
CPRS CODE OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
Members of the Canadian Public Relations Society pledge to uphold the letter and spirit of this Code of Professional Standards.
1. A member shall practice public relations according to the highest professional standards. Members shall conduct their professional lives in a manner that does not conflict with the public interest and the dignity of the individual, with respect for the rights of the public as contained in the Constitution of Canada and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
2. A member shall deal fairly and honestly with the communications media and the public. Members shall neither propose nor act to improperly influence the communications media, government bodies or the legislative process. Improper influence may include conferring gifts, privileges or benefits to influence decisions
3. A member shall practice the highest standards of honesty, accuracy, integrity and truth, and shall not knowingly disseminate false or misleading information. Members shall not make extravagant claims or unfair comparisons, nor assume credit for ideas and words not their own. Members shall not engage in professional or personal conduct that will bring discredit to themselves, the Society or the practice of public relations.
4. A member shall deal fairly with past or present employers / clients, fellow practitioners and members of other professions. Members shall not intentionally damage another practitioner’s practice or professional reputation. Members shall understand, respect and abide by the ethical codes of other professions with whose members they may work from time to time.
5. Members shall be prepared to disclose the names of their employers or clients for whom public communications are made and refrain from associating themselves with anyone who would not respect such policy. Members shall be prepared to disclose publicly the names of their employers or clients on whose behalf public communications is made. Members shall not associate themselves with anyone claiming to represent one interest, or professing to be independent or unbiased, but who actually serves another or an undisclosed interest.
6. A member shall protect the confidences of present, former and prospective employers / clients. Members shall not use or disclose confidential information obtained from past or present employers / clients without the expressed permission of the employers / clients or an order of a court of law.
7. A member shall not represent conflicting or competing interests without the expressed consent of those concerned, given after a full disclosure of the facts. Members shall not permit personal or other professional interests to conflict with those of an employer / client without fully disclosing such interests to everyone involved.
8. A member shall not guarantee specified results beyond the member’s capacity to achieve.
9. Members shall personally accept no fees, commissions, gifts or any other considerations for professional services from anyone except employers or clients for whom the services were specifically performed.