Concerned with dwindling standards of Public Relations and Communications practice in the country, public relations and communications practitioners from public and private sectors have formed their own society.

Speaking in an interview Thursday, the society’s interim president, Lewis Msasa, said the society aims to develop and enforce professional ethics and ethical practice; create space for exchange of ideas and to promote professionalism among practitioners.

“The vision of the society is to champion for a conducive environment for the practice of public relations and communications in Malawi whilst our mission will be to develop and enforce sustainable professional standards and ethics among Malawian public relations and communications professionals in both public and private sector in a socially responsible manner,” he said.

Msasa said the profession has been affected by negative perceptions and misconceptions to the extent that the public feels public relations and communication practitioners are liars and cannot be trusted.

“There is a perception that public relations and communications is about propaganda and telling half truths yet this is not what the profession is all about,” he said.

Meanwhile, the society has been granted authorisation by the Office of the President and Cabinet to use the word “Malawi” in a corporate body which will be known as Public Relations Society of Malawi.

“We have so far completed all the registration formalities and we are just waiting for approval from the Registrar General’s office so that we can immediately roll into action. So far, I am impressed with the response from the practitioners from both public and private sector,” he said.