Ghosted blogs are in breach of CIPR Code of Conduct

I read a comment over at David Philip's Leaverwealth blog that surprised me. David posted recently about the CIPR's adoption of social media and its code of professional conduct after CIPR director general, Colin Farrington, participated in the For Immediate Release podcast.

I wondered in a comment whether the Code might need updating to take account of the growing use of social media by PR professionals and David replied that the Code stands up to the test pretty well.

One thing that did surprise me was this comment by David:

"Matched with existing UK law (e.g. passing off is an offence in election law as well as IP and other statutes) ghost blogging is contrary to the code and in common law."

I mean if you think about it logically then it makes sense, but how many of us who ghost blogs realised they were breaking the CIPR's Code?

Apparently, in the FIR podcast Colin says something along the lines of:

"People in PR need to consider their relationship with clients; PR is largely about relationship building and blogging is an easy medium to run away with."

Given that such a large number of UK coporate and other blogs are presumably ghosted (anyone have figures?) should the CIPR be reminding members (and non-members) of the fact that they are in breach of the Code?

Alternatively, people are doing it so will the CIPR clampdown on ghosted blogs or will a critical mass or tipping point be reached whereby that particular part of the Code needs to be reworked?

I would suggest that if ghost blogging is in breach then the CIPR (or at least someone) should start flagging this up.

As an afterthough this year's Gartner Hype Cycle has been relased and tells us that corporate blogging is slipping into the "Trough of Disillusionment" so maybe the problem will sort itself out!

Both Neville Hobson and Stuart Bruce have posted some interesting thoughts on this year's chart. I won't regurgitate them here but they're well worth reading.

Comments

[David Phillips]

Hi Simon
One of the reasons I posted on the subject was to raise awareness so thanks for extending the meme.

There is the other issue which is that of policing.

Five years ago, the CIPR had to dael with a number of compliants that dealt with un-professional condust in the use of email, an issue that has largely gone away.

The Code is really about treating peope and corporations in a fair manner and with respect. In the use of social media, people who fail in the basic duty will get found out faster and by people like bloggers.

Good practice is welcomed but poor practice is revealed as this post by shel Holtz shows http://blog.holtz.com/index.php/weblog/form_letter_pitches/

Best to use the code as a guide to good practice.

[Simon Collister]

Thanks David.

I do think that given the current meteoric rise of blogging and other social media in PR the CIPR ought to do more to raise awareness about good practice.

As you say, "Best to use the code as a guide to good practice", but it is the CIPR's Code and as standard bearers of good PR they should promote the dubiousness of ghost-blogging.

Fair enough we can't expect the CIPR to promote all areas of the Code - it's down to members to know and stick to it. However, given the growth of blogging it wouldn't be a wasted effort to promote this particular section, would it?