Communication Ethics
a. explain the importance
of ethical
communication;
b. present and defend their
opinions by making
ethical judgments on
problems presented
c. illustrate sound
judgment on the issue
presented
Enduring Understanding
Ethics in General
Ethics deals with the issues of right and
wrong in human affairs.
We are faced with ethical dilemmas
when we ask ourselves whether what we
do is fair or unfair, moral or immoral,
honest or dishonest, and just or unjust.
Enduring Understanding
Ethics in Communication
Since communication is an everyday activity,
it should also observe ethical standards
because ethical communication gives rise to
trust.
Only when people perceive us as ethical and
trustworthy will we be able to make them
believe in what we say.
Enduring Understanding
Ethics in Communication
1. Be Truthful
• Truthfulness is fundamental to all forms of
communication.
• Communicators who are caught lying will lose
their credibility and the goodwill of the
audience, which are essential to influencing
them.
Enduring Understanding
Ethics in Communication
2. Show Respect for the Power of Words
• Words are powerful.
• They can make or break careers, launch
wars, or bridge peace, among others
Enduring Understanding
Ethics in Communication
3. Invoke Participatory Democracy
• Communication ethics is a joint
responsibility between the speaker and
the audience.
Enduring Understanding
Ethics in Communication
3. Invoke Participatory Democracy
• For example, speakers should put
themselves in the shoes of the listeners
and see if they are treating the listeners
as they would like to be treated, with
respect.
Enduring Understanding
Ethics in Communication
4. Demonstrate Mindfulness of Cultural
Diversity
• Ethical communicators construct their
speeches being mindful of cultural
differences-- that means being careful not to
offend others with the things that they say.
Enduring Understanding
Ethics in Communication
5. Treat People as Ends, Not Means
• The best interest of the audience should
be the ends sought by the speaker. We
should refrain from manipulating people
just so we can achieve what we want.
Enduring Understanding
Guidelines for Ethical Listening
Enduring Understanding
1. Be Courteous and Attentive
• Just as speakers have the ethical obligation
to prepare for their speeches, the listeners
have the ethical obligation to be courteous
and attentive during the delivery of the
speech.
Enduring Understanding
2. Avoid Prejudging the Speaker
• Jumping to conclusions about the points of the
speaker even before the speech begins is one of
the major barriers to effective listening.
• This doesn’t mean that you have to agree with
everything that the speaker says.
• Listen to the speaker even if you don’t agree
with him or her.
Enduring Understanding
3. Maintain the Free and Open Expression
of Ideas
• A democratic society depends on the
free and open expression of ideas.
• Just keep in mind that ensuring a
person’s right to express his or her ideas
doesn’t mean agreeing with those ideas.
