https://theloop.ecpr.eu/pr-firms-are-working-for-brutal-regimes-and-getting-away-with-it/ ECPR's Political Science Blog Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:12:01 +0000 hourly 1 https://theloop.ecpr.eu/pr-firms-are-working-for-brutal-regimes-and-getting-away-with-it/#comment-53412 Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:12:01 +0000 https://theloop.ecpr.eu/?p=24155#comment-53412 I enjoyed the piece, and it is timely considering trump's cozying up to Mohammed bin Salman and the abhorrent quote about the late Jamal Khashoggi: “A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about. Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen, but [Mohammed bin Salman] knew nothing about it.”
Just look to this 2022 piece by the Guardian regarding Richard Edelman who happily works with oil, gas and oligarchs: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/22/edelman-saudi-arabia-pr-image.
I work with ~400 marketing and communications firms globally and speak with a number of agency whistleblowers. Sure there are the PRSA & PRCA codes of ethics, but what really drives the firm is the ownership and their respect of their employees. The ethical/moral firms (and there are many) simply do what is right. It is not some complex formula or lofty code of ethics, it's just leadership listening and acting. Literally, it is that simple- I see it happen regularly. Thank you. Steve

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