Public (relations) disturbances and civil disobedience: Why I use “The Yes Men Fix the World” to teach public relations ethics

This “best practices” essay suggests that instructors consider using the movie “The Yes Men Fix the World” as a tool for teaching and discussion of public relations ethics. Although this movie appears at first to skewer the public relations industry and its uses in the corporate sector, in fact the movie provides a number of opportunities for discussion of important topics such as corporate social responsibility and professional ethics. Using this movie as a teaching tool for public relations ethics supports the suggestions of Karlberg (1996), Dozier and Lauzen (2000), and L’Etang (2005) that scholars and educators should consider the application of critical theory to the study and teaching of public relations.

► “The Yes Men Fix the World” is an effective tool for instructors of PR ethics.
► The movie addresses issues such as CSR, professional ethics, and critical theory.
► Using this movie can provide fertile ground for discussion of ethical issues.
► Its realistic but ultimately hopeful message can empower both teachers and students.