Exploring Ethical Listening Among Public Relations Professionals

ABSTRACT

This qualitative study explored how 54 U.S.-based public relations practitioners engaged in ethical listening. Findings of the study suggest that public relations professionals engage in ethical listening by drawing upon deontological concepts of dignity and respect, implementing care-centered concepts of empathy and inherent connection to others, modeling inclusivity and attentiveness to diverse perspectives, practicing accountability to ethical listening, and remaining humble. Models depicting organizational listening should consider inclusion of ethical values.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication’s generous support of this research. Additionally, the authors would like to thank attendees of the 2023 International Public Relations Research Conference for their feedback on an early version of the paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication .