ETHICS CODE

All people should be treated with respect, for the workplace should promote teamwork and trust between team members. Advertising, public relations, marketing communications, news, and editorial work all share a common goal of presenting truth and maintaining high ethical standards in serving the public. Marketing communications professionals have an obligation to exercise responsibility alongside the highest ethics in the creation and dissemination of commercial information to consumers. Advertisers should clearly distinguish advertising, public relations and corporate communications from news and editorial content and entertainment, both online and offline. Advertisers should clearly disclose all material conditions, such as payment or receipt of a free product, to maintain full disclosure and transparency.

Team members must treat consumers fairly based on the nature of the product or service advertised as sensitivity is advised. Advertisers should respect consumers and therefore never compromise consumers’ personal privacy in marketing communications. Advertisers should follow truthful representation of communications and refrain from any tactics of deception or manipulation in the workplace and especially for the consumers. Advertisers must follow federal, state and local advertising laws, and cooperate with industry self-regulatory programs for the resolution of advertising practices. Trust between advertising and any other party should be built upon transparency and full disclosure of business ownership and arrangements.