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200436 https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.2.N.200436 http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0 2025-05 32 pages Brennan, Hayden Jamme, Hue-Tam Larson, Kelli Barrett, The Honors College School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning This paper seeks to understand how current urban planners perceive the concept of the public interest. As the first guiding principle of the American Institute of Certified Planners' Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, the pursuit of the public interest is central to the role of a planner. This study surveys urban planners on what definition of the public interest is most applicable to their organizational goals, and separately according to their personal values. This methodology has uncovered a strong preference in perceiving the public interest as a process of deliberation, in line with the communicative theory of planning. However, interviews show a split between planners who believe the public interest comes from an unaided discussion and planners who believe the discussions can be aided through educational message framing. Additionally, the survey finds a difference between personal and organizational approaches to the public interest in regards to equity and overall enthusiasm towards any definition of the public interest. However, this distinction between personal and organizational outlooks may be neutralized by their subservient relationship with elected officials. This work addresses if and how planners add their personal expertise into the planning process. Urban Planning Public interest Communicative Planning Message Framing Planning Theory Interviews Perceptions of the Public Interest: Interviews with Urban Planners