Announcing Jim’s Emeritus designation, Kathy Barber, APR, national chair of PRSA said, “Jim, along with a team of seven other senior professionals, took on the daunting task of revising the PRSA Code of Ethics in 2000; this Code is what all public relations society members swear to uphold as PRSA members,” noted Barbour. “He continues to share his knowledge and insight with PRSA members, industry leaders as well as leaders of American society in a variety of ways. His commitment is long and remarkable. Frankly, we expect Jim to continue to inspire, motivate and energize all of us to make ethical decisions in our practices daily.”
According to Lukaszewski, ethical behavior by communications professionals “is essential to building our profession.” It was a proposal from Jim in 2002 that initiated the ongoing updating of the Code through the periodic issuance of Ethical Standards Advisories (ESAs) as issues arose in which professional public relations practitioners required further instruction and interpretation of the PRSA Code. Jim is famous for his practical, down-to-earth, sensible advice.
When encountering potential crisis clients, he is known to advise the following, “Call your insurance carrier, talk to an attorney, consult your crisis advisor, then, do what your mother taught you. Things will get better faster.”
Known as America’s Crisis Guru®, his practice extends throughout the United States and much of Canada. His function in crises is to help, guide and sometimes lead the crisis response and to then assist the organization and its leadership to recover from the damage that crisis situations always cause.
Lukaszewski, a PRSA member since 1974 and BEPS member for the last 22 years, began his career on the press staff in the office of former Minnesota Governor Wendell R. Anderson. He encourages public relations professionals to act ethically by continuously sharing lessons he has learned throughout his career via his writing, lectures, case studies, consulting, books and webinars.
The recognition adds to Lukaszewski’s professional achievements of Accredited Business Communicator, Accredited in Public Relations, Fellow Public Relations Society of America, America’s Crisis Guru®, and now Member Emeritus of the Board of Ethics and Professional Standards.