ETHICS

1. ETHICS Chapter Six

2. What are ethics? • Ethics refers to the values that guide a person, organization, or society—the difference between right and wrong, fairness and unfairness, honesty and dishonesty.

3. Ethical decisions are based on • Our moral choices • Norms of society • Legal principles • Organizational values • Professional values

4. A person’s ethical choices depend on several factors but are not limited to our: • Culture callout • Religion • Education

5. Culture, as well as the fields of philosophy and religion, provide the framework for ethics. • Utilitarianism • Aristotle's “Golden Mean” • Kant’s Categorical Imperative • Mill’s principle of utility • Judeo-Christian ethic

6. These codes of ethics must be: • Monitored • Assessed • Enforced

7. Professional ethics are often referred to as “applied ethics,” a commonly accepted sense of professional conduct that is translated into formal codes of ethics.

8. Can you identify some ethical dilemmas confronting society? • Clue: Cultural, Religious, Business, Government, Political, Media

9. PRSA Code of Ethics • See text, Figure 6-1 Advocacy Honesty Expertise Independence Loyalty

10. Public Relations Society of Americaand the International Association of Business Communicators both have codes of ethics that govern the practice of public relations.Honesty and fairness are stressed.

11. Can you name the dirty deed with the corporation in these white collar crimes?EnronArthur AndersenWorld ComAdelphia CommunicationsTycoMartha Stewart C

12. The Corporate Reform Bill was signed to impose rigorous sanctions on corporate criminalsby President Bush.

13. Can ethics and profits co-exist? A question to ponder…

14. What leaders in your opinion have high credibility? • International/National • Federal/State/Local government • Business • Community

15. Corporate Codes of Conduct are needed to: • Increase public confidence • Stem the tide of regulation • Improve internal operations • Respond to transgressions

16. What is corporate social responsibility? • A social norm that holds that any social institution is responsible for the behavior of its members and may be held accountable for their misdeeds.

17. Social Responsibility Categories • Product lines • Marketing practices • Corporate philanthropy • Environmental activities • External relations • Employment diversity in retaining and promoting minorities and women • Employee safety and health

18. Ethics in Government • Can you identify the name to the political transgression hall of shame? • Gary Condit • James Traficant • Dick Morris • Robert Torricelli

19. Code of Ethics for the Society of Professional Journalists • Call out text fig. 6-6 pg.144

20. What are some issues that have cropped up with regard to ethics in journalism?Clue: Sources, Bogus stories,Not crediting properly

21. Some of the areas of concern: • Internet journalism • Reality Television • TV bogus News programs • Print journalism scandals

22. Four Relevant Ethical Theories: • Attorney/adversary model by Barney and Black • Two-way Communication model by Grunig • Enlightened self-interest model by Baker • Responsible Advocacy model by Fitzpatrick and Gauthier

23. Six Core Values of the PRSA Code • Advocacy • Honesty • Expertise • Interdependence • Loyalty • Fairness