On the first anniversary of the expulsion of Bell Pottinger, the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) has revealed that a majority of the PR and communications industry believe that the expulsion had a positive impact on the reputation and ethics of the industry.
On 5th September, 2017, the PRCA announced today that it had imposed its most serious sanctions on Bell Pottinger, following an investigation into the agency’s work for Oakbay Capital in South Africa. The investigation followed a complaint from the Democratic Alliance. Bell Pottinger’s membership was terminated with immediate effect.
In a real-time pulse survey prepared by The Pulse Business, a market insight company, the PRCA asked the industry what impact, if any, the decision has had on the reputation of our industry and profession. 63% of the PRCA Members confirmed that the expulsion had a positive impact.
16% said that it has had little impact, while 14% added that it had no impact at all.
Considering what impact the decision had on the importance practitioners place on ethical practice, 63% said it had a positive impact.
A further 11% said it had little impact, and 16% said it had no impact at all.
Francis Ingham MPRCA, Director General, PRCA, said: “Last year’s PRCA decision to expel Bell Pottinger was a defining moment for the industry. In taking the decisive action we did, we made clear that the industry expects and enforces the highest of standards. A year on, we can see that the reputation of the industry, and the value it places on ethical practice, have both been raised. There is more to be done, but the last year has been one of progress and change for the better.”
