For the future of the PR industry, ethics provides the clearest map

The dean of Penn State’s Bellisario School of Communications talks about the challenges facing young PR pros, how employers can help them succeed, and what comes next in this dynamic industry.

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Everyone wants to know what’s next.

When will the pandemic be over? What’s the next social media platform that will dominate the marketplace? When will everyone go back to the office?

There are no easy answers to these questions, but when it comes to the future of communications and public relations, there is a roadmap: ethics.

What truly endures is a commitment to telling the truth, serving others and building community. That’s the main message from Marie Hardin, dean of the Donald P. Bellisario School of Communications at Penn State University. Hardin has been at Penn State since 2003, where she has served as the director of the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity for Public Communication and directed the Center for Editing Excellence, following her career in journalism.

We spoke with her about what challenges are facing young PR pros looking to start their career in communications in an unprecedented moment for the U.S. economy, the future of the industry and how communicators can face crises like the rise of misinformation.

What the future holds

Even though everything changes, some things do stay the same. In an industry that never stops innovating, there is no replacement for good, strong writing.

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