Ethics in Communicati ON

IN C OM MU NI C A TIO N
ETHIC S
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IS ETHICAL
COMMUNICATION.
Communication is ethical only when it is genuine, open, cooperative
and sensitive to one’s cultural and social beliefs and practices. If there is
an intent to conceal the truth, or bring damage to any organization,
group or individual person, communication is considered unethical.
Even in situations when there is no intent to harm, but damage to a
certain group is inevitable because of the message or the channel used to
relay the message, it is still considered unethical.
When communicating, we do not simply choose words; we choose
words for the effect they will have on our audience, on ourselves, and
ultimately, on society. Thus, when we communicate, we cannot escape
ethical questions, questions which ask how helpful or harmful our
actions are.
ETHICS IS THE DISCUSSION OF THE JUDGMENTS
WE MAKE ABOUT THE APPROPRIATENESS, THE
RIGHT OR WRONG, OF OUR ACTIONS AND POLICIES
BE THOSE ACTIONS COMMUNICATIVE, POLITICAL,
SOCIAL, PERSONAL, OR A MIXTURE OF AREAS.
C O M M U N IC A T IO N
E T H IC A L
DISCOVERING THE ETHICAL ELEMENT IN OUR
COMMUNICATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE GO THROUGH
A COMPLETE ETHICAL INVENTORY EVERY TIME WE ENGAGE
IN COMMUNICATION. RATHER, WE MAKE BASIC
ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE NATURE OF PEOPLE AND OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES TO THEM AND THEN ACT ON THE BASIS
OF THOSE ASSUMPTIONS.
TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS IN OUR COMMUNICATION,
TO COMMUNICATE ETHICALLY, WE MUST GIVE THOUGHT TO
THE MANNER IN WHICH WE COMMUNICATE.
AL CO MM UN I CA T I ON
R E TH IC
GUIDELINES FO
1. ETHICAL COMMUNICATORS ARE RESPECTFUL OF THEIR AUDIENCES.
Communication is a two way process. Communication implies a party other than
ourselves and an attempt on our part to influence that person or party in some way.
In terms of practice, this principle means that audience analysis is an important part of
communication. We cannot respond appropriately if we are ignorant of the people with
whom we communicate. Respect for audiences includes respect for the ideas and feelings
of the people with whom we interact. If people possess dignity and worth, then they need
to be treated as such even when we may disagree with them strongly.
2. Ethical communicators consider the consequences of their
communication.
Having considered the natures of our audiences, we need to consider

further the effect of our communication on them and upon ourselves.
Sam is chairing the planning committee for the outing club's spring
break trip to isle royale. Committee members are all doing their work
except for Larry who has missed several meetings and has not had his
committee reports ready on time. Larry is slowing down the committee's
progress and threatening the success of the trip. Sam has to talk to Larry
about the problem and is frustrated enough to bawl him out about his
poor work. Telling Larry off in loud and uncertain terms may make Sam
feel better, but if Sam is an ethical communicator, he will consider the
possible outcomes of his communication with Larry.
If larry's work is late because he has been sick, an outburst may leave
larry resentful and even less willing to perform the necessary work.
Relations will be strained more. The trip may be further endangered.
Whatever the situation, sam's best choice will be an approach that
encourages larry to be a contributing member, reduces the possibility of
conflict, and ensures the success of the projected trip rather than just
venting his feelings.
3. Ethical communicators respect truth
A great deal of the ethics of communication involves a respect for
truth. Indeed, as one has put it, the assumption of truth supports the very
concept of communication itself: "an inherent end of speech is the
communication of belief". If we cannot trust the other party, we cannot
accurately judge how to respond. If we cannot accurately judge how to
respond, then our communication becomes increasingly ineffective. If
the lack of trust is pervasive enough, it is destructive finally to society.
Let us say that an instructor receives a call from a student just before the student is scheduled to make
a presentation in class. The student tells the instructor that he cannot make his presentation because he is
sick. He says that he has a fever and has been up all night with nausea. His voice sounds hoarse and tired.
The instructor is sympathetic and offers to let the student make up the presentation later. Two hours later,
the instructor goes to lunch and across the restaurant, sees the same student. The student is active, lively,
and in animated conversation with his friends. It is apparent that he is not the least bit sick. The student has
created trouble for himself, but he has also created trouble for other students. Once deceived, the instructor
will be less likely in the future to accept reasons for missed work. Rather than accepting the word of the
student, the instructor may demand proof of the illness and move the relationship toward a more legalistic
level.
4. Ethical communicators use information properly
Adequate information
as an ethical communicator, a respect for truth means being informed on a topic before posing as
any kind of authority on the subject. Certain professions such as law, medicine, and education have
formal standards of expertise and knowledge that must be met before one can be a practitioner. We
would be appropriately appalled to discover that the physician who just treated us had never attended
medical school.
The same principle applies in communication situations. If we are going to provide information
to people, much less persuade them, we need to be well prepared for the occasion. To talk about
"how students can handle their finances" with little or no background would be giving limited, if not
false, information. To speak with any authenticity on the subject, we would need to look into such
items as educational costs, credit card use, banks and credit unions, and work opportunities.
Accurate information
we also need to consider the accuracy of the information and the accuracy with which we use it.
When we use inaccurate information to influence others, we cause difficulty for them and for
ourselves.
Accurate information is information that is timely, up to date, and applicable to the situation. In
making a presentation on where to attend college, a speaker might quote a reference work that listed
information about schools such as tuition, majors, and academic standing. If the reference book,
though, were ten years old, the information would be of little use. Out of date information about
other significant topics such as the environment, drug use, or crime rates would be as useless.
Along with finding timely and adequate information, an ethical speaker will use quotations,
facts, ideas, and figures accurately.
5. Ethical communicators do not falsify information
Worse than the distortion of information is falsifying information. Failing to find information
useful to our goals, we make it up. Lena guerrero, a person active in texas politics was appointed to
an important state commission by the governor. Part of guerrero's credentials were notations of her
graduation from the university of Texas and membership in phi beta kappa, a prestigious honorary
society. As the featured speaker at a college graduation, she waxed sentimental about her own
graduation, saying, "now, I remember well my own commencement, and I think I can guess what
you're feeling about now“.
Investigative reporters discovered some important facts about her college years: guerrero
attended college but fell nineteen hours short of the required minimum. She had no college degree;
she never graduated. Nor was she ever a member of phi beta kappa. She had lied about the situation.
Such invention of information is highly unethical.
ANOTHER WAY OF FALSIFYING INFORMATION IS THROUGH PLAGIARISM.
PLAGIARISM IS A KIND OF THEFT, INTELLECTUAL THEFT. WE PLAGIARIZE WHEN WE
USE THE WORDS OR IDEAS OF ANOTHER AND FAIL TO CREDIT THE SOURCE. INSTEAD
OF ATTRIBUTING THE MATERIAL TO ITS ORIGINAL CREATOR, WE PRETEND THE
WORDS OR IDEAS ARE OUR OWN. WHEN WRITING, WE ACKNOWLEDGE SOURCES BY
THE USE OF QUOTATION MARKS AND INCLUDE A CITATION OF THE SOURCE. WHEN
SPEAKING, WE ACKNOWLEDGE SOURCES BY NAMING THEM IN THE CONTEXT OF
THE SPEECH.
6. ETHICAL COMMUNICATORS RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS TO INFORMATION
A RESPECT FOR TRUTH AND AN ETHICAL CONSIDERATION OF OTHERS ALSO MEANS
RESPECTING THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS IN REGARD TO INFORMATION AND ACCESS TO
INFORMATION. COLLECTING INFORMATION IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE RESEARCH
PROCESS, BUT STEALING INFORMATION IS THEFT. BEYOND THE PERSONAL ACT OF
THEFT, STEALING INFORMATION IS UNETHICAL BECAUSE IT PREVENTS OTHER PEOPLE
FROM SECURING INFORMATION AND UNNECESSARILY MAKES THEIR LIVES MORE
DIFFICULT.
FOR EXAMPLE, A PERIODICAL ARTICLE MAY BE USEFUL TO OUR SPEECH, BUT WE
SHOULD EITHER TAKE NOTES ON THE MATERIAL OR PHOTOCOPY IT RATHER THAN
TEARING IT OUT OF THE MAGAZINE. TEARING OUT THE ARTICLE ROBS OTHERS OF THE
OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT AND CREATES ADDED EXPENSE FOR THE LIBRARY WHICH
MUST REPLACE IT. THAT EXPENSE, ALONG WITH SIMILAR EXPENSES, ADDS TO THE
FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THE SCHOOL AND EVENTUALLY, ITS STUDENTS, INCLUDING THE
PERSON WHO TORE OUT THE ARTICLE

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IN C OM MU NI C A TIO N

Having considered the natures of our audiences, we need to consider

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