Edelman, Saudi and more - ethics examined in PRWeek's Beyond the Noise podcast

<p>News that Edelman has started working with the government of Saudi Arabia has reignited a debate around industry ethics.</p><p>To discuss the issues, Beyond the Noise this week welcomes industry stalwart Trevor Morris, co-author of Public Relations Ethics: The Real-World Guide. Regular podcast host Frankie Oliver, founder of New Society, also gives her take, while PRWeek UK editor John Harrington asks the questions.</p><p>PRWeek UK’s Beyond the Noise podcast, which is published on alternate weeks, looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-noise-the-prweek-podcast/id1513615965" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0onUHcQsn5ITC1lYtW89jZ?si=c965c18c49724d2c&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>&nbsp;or your favourite platform.</p><p>Morris and Oliver disagree on several points this week. On the topic of whether working with a country like Saudi Arabia can be justified, Morris suggests it might depend on the brief - a road safety or tourism campaign for the Kingdom may be considered fairly benign, for example.</p><p>Oliver takes a harder line. In reference to any campaign to improve the country's reputation, she says: "Just using the lipstick gloss of celebrity and travel to present a positive image of Saudi Arabia is, I think, questionable."</p><p>Other issues are raised, including the fact many more agencies work with or in China, another country with a record of human rights violations, without widespread criticism.</p><p>"Why is Saudi worse than China?" asks Morris.</p><p>We look at the reputational impact on the agencies, and on employee sentiment, of working with controversial clients. The podcast also asks: are some industries now too hot to handle from an ethical stance?</p><p>Separately, the ethical questions around the recent 'cash for coverage' scandal are also put under the microscope.</p><p>On a lighter note, we celebrate the Lionesses' major sporting and communications success at the Euros in Top of the Fortnight.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>