Communication Ethics
Paper 2: Law, Ethics & Communication Chapter 16
Dr. Naveen K Mehta
Learning Objectives
1
• Significance of ethical communication
2
• Characteristics of ethical communication
3
• Factors influencing ethical communication
4
• Ethical dilemmas in communication
5
• Guidelines to handle communication dilemma
Ethical Communication:
Introduction
What is Ethical Communication?
Ethics plays a crucial role in communication. The word ethics
encompasses the entire spectrum of human conduct
Ethical communication is fundamental to responsible thinking,
decision making, and the development of relationships and
communities within and across contexts, cultures, channels, and
media. Ethical communication enhances human worth and
respect for self and others.
Characteristics of Ethical Communication
An ethical communication:
includes all relevant information,
is true in every sense and is not deceptive in any way.
accurate and sincere. Avoids language that manipulates,, discriminates or
exaggerates.
does not state opinions as facts,
portrays graphic data fairly.
In a nutshell ethical communicators have a "well developed sense of social
responsibility.
Advantages of Ethical Communication
Advantages of
Ethical
Communication
Ethical communication promotes long-term business
success and profit. However, improving profits isn't
reason enough to be ethical; as soon as the cost of being
ethical outweighed the benefits, ethical choices would no
longer be possible. One advantage of ethics long-term
integrity. Surveys report that all employees want to work
for organizations with high ethical standards.
Ethical Dilemmas in Communication
Secrecy
• Secrets are kept for both honourable and
dishonourable reasons; may be used to
guard intimacy or to invade it.
Whistle Blowing
• Any employee who goes public with
information about corporate abuses or
negligence is known as a whistle-blower.
Leaks
• A leak is like anonymous whistle- blowing;
one distinction being the propriety of the
leak; namely, that the person who leaks
information cannot be cross-examined.
Ethical Dilemmas in Communication
Rumour & Gossip
• Rumours and gossip seem to be an inevitable part of
everyday corporate life. Rumours tend to focus on
events and information, whereas gossip focuses on
people
Lying
• A lie is a false statement intended to deceive. Lying
breaks down the trust between individuals, shaking
the foundation of ethical communication.
Euphemisms
• By definition, a euphemism is using a less offensive
expression instead of one that might cause distress.
Ambiguity
• Ambiguity, like secrecy, can be used for ethical or
unethical purposes .
Guidelines to Handle Communication Ethics
Dilemmas
Maintain
Candour:
Keep message
accurate
• Candour refers to truthfulness, honesty,
frankness and one should stick to these
elements while communicating with others.
• At the time of relaying information from one
source to another, communicate the original
message as accurately as possible.
•
Secrecy
One has to maintain secrecy and confidence in
communication. So one should not divulge such
information to others.Task Force – Task force is
like Committee but it is usually temporary.
Guidelines to Handle Communication Ethics
Dilemmas
Ensure
timeliness of
communication
• The timing of messages can be critical. Delay in
sending messages can be assumed unethical.
Avoid deception
• Ethical communicators are always vigilant in their
quest to avoid deception, fabrication, intentional
distortion or withholding of information in their
communication.
Confront
unethical
behaviour
• One must confront an unethical behaviour in
order to ensure a consistent ethical view point.
Summary
Ethical communication enhances human worth and dignity by fostering truthfulness,
fairness, responsibility, personal integrity, and respect for self and others.
Ethical communication requires effective critical thinking skills, recognizing the importance
of diverse perspectives, respect for the well being of self and others, taking responsibility for
individual and group actions, and reflecting on the choices group members make.
Values are the principles and ideas that people or organizations strongly believe in and
consider important. Conflict is a part of almost every interpersonal relationship. Conflict is a
greatly misunderstood facet of group communication.
Thank You