I’ve always known that public relations can be used to positively affect our society. For me, that notion was reinforced after I listened to U.S. Congressman John Lewis speak at the 2015 PRSA International Conference in Atlanta.
Congressman Lewis has spent most of his life fighting for civil rights, and he is the only living “Big Six” leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement, according to Wikipedia.
His anecdotes about activism and fighting for causes were a reminder to the audience that PR’s ability to educate and influence is powerful. In fact, think of these campaigns and their impact on society:
- Running public service announcements about wearing a seat belt when driving.
- Rallying a community to stand up against police violence.
- Passing a local referendum to fund dual-language immersion classes at an elementary school.
- Defeating proposed legislation that would ban a certain type of research at a university.
“Get in the way,” Congressman Lewis said to the attendees. “Find a way … to educate, to inform and to inspire another generation to stand up for what is right and what is necessary. That is your calling.”
Smart folks like Congressman Lewis know that public relations is not about “spin” or event planning or endless pitching. PR practitioners should be proud that our profession can protect our rights, our health, our safety, our education, our children and our livelihoods.
I know I am.
This year, I’m serving as the PRSA liaison to the Board of Ethics and Professional Standards (BEPS). September is Ethics Month, and as part of the