New public relations guide to raise the bar, curb misconduct
ICT Principal Secretary Joseph Tiampati (left) and Association of Public Relations and Communications Management Firms chairman Lawrence Gikatu during the launch of new guidelines for PR firms at Laico Regency Hotel, Nairobi, on November 20, 2014. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU |
What you need to know:
- The guidelines were developed by the Association of Public Relations and Communications Management Firms (APReCOM).
- The policy is also meant to resolve rampant cases of conflicting information issued by government officials.
The association of public relations firms has released guidelines meant to raise standards and curb professional misconduct in the industry.
The guidelines were developed by the Association of Public Relations and Communications Management Firms (APReCOM).
They also provide procedures on working relationship between public relations firms and clients to minimise conflict and cases of undercutting by competitors.
“The guidelines have been benchmarked on global PR standards and will help bring order, accountability and cost-effectiveness in use of resources from both the consultancy firms involved and their respective clients,” APReCOM chairman Lawrence Gikaru said on Thursday at the launch of the guidelines.
The principal secretary, Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology, Mr Joseph Tiampati, said the new code will improve standards and ethics in the profession.
He said the government is developing a policy on public communications which will reorganise the way communication is carried out, oversee management of websites and manage information in times of crises.
The policy is also meant to resolve rampant cases of conflicting information issued by government officials.
Meanwhile, the government will start centralising State advertising by March 2014.
The centralised procurement and placement of government advertising will be handled through the ICT ministry’s public communications unit, headed by Mr Denis Chebitwey.
