The PRSA Code of Ethics sets out principles and guidelines that uphold the core values of the ethical practice of public relations. Those values include advocacy, honesty, loyalty, professionalism and objectivity. PRSA suggested 5 guidelines for carrying out responses to this tragedy; humanize the message, convey empathy, reinforce organizational values, tell the truth, and to write for a 6th grade reading level. The Coronavirus is a pandemic that has and still is causing an outbreak globally. This virus has not only affected business, cooperations, but even our everyday life.
Peoria’s grocery chains, Hy-Vee, responded to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in efforts to protect their employees and customers while still carrying out the company’s routine. They started off by giving an update of the grocery’s store new policies in regards to the pandemic. The article explained how they’re responding, how customers can help, and how they are providing products and protection. The article was broken down in the simplest terms and provided a great deal of emotion while delivering their message. They expressed how they were having a few hardships with online orders due to this outbreak and told customers how to take the proper precautions to help them through the issue. The company could have incorporated their values more in the message, however it did not take away from the article. They carried out the other 4 concepts for writing the response very successfully.
The customers were included in this article throughout this entire response, and were told how they were going to carry out their services from on out. They also explained how they were taking necessary steps to provide sanitation and protection for them. The article did not give too much information about employees besides the fact that they will have shorter working shifts and will be open 7 days a week. They could have had a better response for the employees that are working there and provided them with small sections in regards to how things are going to change for them. The article did not adequately support the internal as strong as they did in the external audiences for the Coronavirus. It is just as important to address those who are working for you as it is those who are being serviced by you. That is one aspect that I would strongly recommend adding, to strengthen the ethical message in this article. With some minor tweaks, Hy-Vee’s response to Corona will be perfect for it’s audiences.
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