The Standard
The PBA Code of Ethics
All 7 of them. Every listed agency signs it and is accountable to it. Violations, once confirmed, result in removal from the directory, permanently.
The 7 commitments
Organic growth comes first
We do not buy followers, engagement, or manufactured social proof, for our clients or ourselves. Paid amplification is a legitimate tool and we use it, but it supports earned effort rather than substituting for it.
AI is disclosed, not concealed
Artificial intelligence is a tool, and we use it openly where it helps. We do not let it do the heavy lifting of a client's intellectual property or speaking voice, we do not present generated work as human craft, and we do not use it to build a perception the client has not earned.
Earned press, honestly earned
We do not fabricate media features, pay for disguised advertorials presented as earned coverage, or invent credentials.
Truth in results
We do not promise outcomes we cannot control, and we report client results without inflation.
Identity before image
We build brands on who the client actually is, never on a persona designed to deceive their audience.
Transparent pricing
Our fees, deliverables, and terms are stated before engagement. No bait pricing, no surprise upsells mid-contract.
The client owns the brand
Accounts, audiences, and assets built during an engagement belong to the client, always.
Common questions
Who has to sign the Code of Ethics?
Every agency listed in the directory, without exception, including the founder listing.
What happens if an agency breaks it?
Reports are reviewed by Mashman Consulting Group. The agency is contacted and given the opportunity to respond. A confirmed violation results in permanent removal from the directory, and any paid subscription ends with the listing.
Can an agency pay to avoid enforcement?
No. Paid plans affect placement and presentation only. They cannot buy vetting approval, a rating, a rank, or protection from a consumer report.
I run advertisements for my clients. Do I still qualify?
Yes. Paid advertising and paid newswire distribution are legitimate disciplines, and using them is not a violation. The commitment is named “organic growth comes first” because paid channels are meant to amplify earned effort rather than replace it. What the Code prohibits is manufactured proof: bought followers, bought engagement, and paid placement presented as earned editorial coverage.
See how agencies are checked against this in the vetting standard, or report a violation.