what is Ethics?The Oxford Dictionary defines ethics as:
1. “Moral principles that govern a person’s or group’s behavior. 2. The branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles." Today’s technology has created a world of instant information so one false misstep in the information that you put out there could result in dire consequences. The environment is always changing and does not remain static. This is why it’s of the utmost importance for communicators to follow codes of conduct and employ ethical guidelines within their own communications. Also, to build not only their own brand but also the organization in which they represent. Adopting a code of ethics exhibits reliability, trust, and credibility for individuals and companies that follow some sort of ethical code. This is best explained by the article, “What Are the Goals of Ethical Business Communications” on eHow:
“The purpose of business is to make money. Behaving ethically serves that purpose. People prefer doing business with ethical companies, companies they can trust, so in the long run the ethical company benefits from its behavior. This means that the goal of ethical business communication is to build the trust and credibility of the company.” Read more : http://www.ehow.com/list_6312343_goals-ethical-business-communications_.html |
What are the Ethical Theories?As professional communicators, it is important for people to employ some form of ethical set of guidelines and morals for communicating (i.e. ethical communication). Following an ethical code helps ensure that good choices are put into place. There are five different ethical theories from various schools of thought, philosophers, religious figures, scholars that people identify with and use.
These five ethical theories are: 1. Utilitarianism 2. Deontology 3. Divine Command 4. Ethical Relativism 5. Virtue Ethics “A Short Primer on Ethical Theory” is a good document that provides an overview on these five ideologies. Ethics are influenced by one’s own personal experiences, spiritual and historical sources, culture, current climate, and varying situations. By knowing and understanding these different ideologies, one can begin to identify which school of thought he/she identifies the closest with to help aide in decision-making. Knowing which of the theories you classify yourself as using the most can help navigate the murky waters of ethics and communications in today’s fast-paced digital information age. Additional Resources Available to Help Guide Ethical Decision Making in Communications: |
REFERENCES::
-http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/gwschlabach/docs/ethicsprimer.htm
-http://www.ehow.com/list_6312343_goals-ethical-business-communications_.html
-http://www.ehow.com/facts_6368748_code-ethics_.html
-http://www.ehow.com/about_6718517_importance-ethics-morals.html
-http://www.ehow.com/info_7748045_ethical-communication-guide.html
-www.iabc.com/about/code.htm
-http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/ethics
-http://www.prsa.org/aboutprsa/ethics/#.VDrrLJRdWSp
-http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/gwschlabach/docs/ethicsprimer.htm
-http://www.ehow.com/list_6312343_goals-ethical-business-communications_.html
-http://www.ehow.com/facts_6368748_code-ethics_.html
-http://www.ehow.com/about_6718517_importance-ethics-morals.html
-http://www.ehow.com/info_7748045_ethical-communication-guide.html
-www.iabc.com/about/code.htm
-http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/ethics
-http://www.prsa.org/aboutprsa/ethics/#.VDrrLJRdWSp