Code Of Ethics

Looking at the code of ethics,  and the statements of professional values you get a sense of understanding.

• Advocacy- you serve as a voice with ideas, facts and viewpoints
• Honesty- People look for the highest standards of accuracy and truth with communicating with the public.
• Expertise- Responsibly use specialized knowledge and expertise.
• Independence- You are accountable for your actions.
• Loyalty- Be faithful to the ones you represent while still completing your obligations for public interest. 
• Fairness- Respect all opinions and support the right of free expression.

With looking at a situation that may have had an issue with one of these ethical concept is the Joe Paterno and Jerry Sandusky sex abuse accusations at Penn State University. Sandusky was accused of sexual charges to minors over his years coaching at Penn State.  Many faculty and coaches admit to seeing Sandusky sexually assaulting kids before. With Joe Paterno being the head coach and being aware of this why wouldn't he speak up? In a interview he was asked and said "I didn't know exactly how to handle it and I was afraid to do something that might jeopardize what the university procedure was. So I backed away and turned it over to some other people, people I thought would have a little more expertise than I did. It didn't work out that way." With all of this falling out to the public, with reading articles where does the public relation aspect step up? I dont believe that they were being honest with people when all of this was happening. For people to be able to find out the truth was too much for them to lose. They knew that with doing that it would hurt their reputation even more than what already has happened.