The Rules of Public Relations: Legal and Ethical Issues in Contemporary Practice

In the digital age, where every post, tweet, and campaign can have far-reaching legal implications, The Rules of Public Relations provides an accessible and practical guide for students and professionals in the public relations world. This book takes a deep dive into the complex and ever-evolving body of laws that directly impact the work of today’s PR practitioners. From the rise of social media giants and brand influencers to the intricacies of intellectual property, consumer reviews, and the looming presence of artificial intelligence, the legal and ethical terrain of public relations is vast and nuanced. Structured thematically, chapters of this book address critical comparisons such as law versus ethics and PR practitioners versus lawyers, offering clarity on how these sometimes overlapping domains affect the industry. The book also discusses the importance of transparency and reputation management in the context of privacy, and intellectual property. Each chapter culminates in a unique section that views legal issues through an ethical lens, proposing inventive resolutions to some of the most timely and challenging problems in public relations today. Readers are left not just understanding but anticipating how legal trends may shape the industry in the 2020s and beyond. For anyone involved in the craft of public relations-whether a student stepping into the field or a professional steering through the complexities of modern media-this book is a pivotal resource, offering the foresight and knowledge to not just survive but thrive in the legal reality of public relations in the 2020s.

Cayce Myers, Ph.D., LL.M., J.D. APR, is professor and director of graduate studies at Virginia Tech School of Communication. His research spans communication law, ethics, political discourse, and regulatory impacts on PR practice. Having published four books and over sixty scholarly pieces, Myers is an authority in public relations law and ethics and PR history. He participates actively in industry organizations and is a recognized voice in media, providing commentary on PR and legal issues across various national platforms.