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Basic Principles of Ethical Communications

Basic Principles of Ethical Communications

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14 views

Basic Principles of Ethical Communications

Basic Principles of Ethical Communications

Uploaded by

2024974461
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Basic Principles

of
Ethical
Communications
• Without a doubt, ethical communication should be top-of-mind for all
communications professionals.

• In business communication, more often than not, we tend to prioritize


results-driven objectives such as creating mass awareness,
encouraging purchase intent and driving demand.

• Nonetheless, it is just as imperative to take a step back and ask


ourselves if we are being fully honest and transparent, or engaging in
unethical behavior in any shape or form.
• Unethical communication still takes place because of one key reason:
people often underestimate the impact of communication.

• In fact, communication is a paramount tool in developing a


relationship and building trust with your audience.

• It has the power to shape narratives across any given topic from
politics to technology and requires careful and thoughtful
consideration of ethical principles.
• Unethical communication has the potential to significantly damage
the online reputation of the organization in question.

• Imagine if a press release announcing a new product mentioned a


unique feature that the item did not actually possess, or a social
media post made false or exaggerated claims about being an award-
winning company.

• You can expect your audience to immediately lose trust in the


organization in a way that is next to impossible to undo.
What Is Ethical Communication?
Simply put, ethical
communication
refers to
communicating in
a manner that is
clear, concise,
truthful, and
responsible.
• In a profession that does not have an explicit set of guidelines, and it
can be challenging to discern right from wrong.

• Be that as it may, just as the medical industry has its regulations and
ethical standards to adhere to, communication professionals should
observe an unwritten code of ethical conduct that acts as the
backbone of our communications strategy and a key virtue of
professionalism.

• We should always strive to achieve both effective communication and


ethical communication
Four key ethical principles that every
communications professional should bear in
mind
1. Ensuring Transparency and Honesty

• Communicate only what is known to be the truth.

• Ethics can be tricky in this regard because although it may not have been
your intention, it is still considered unethical even if a mere 1 percent of
what is said is false.

• The responsibility of guaranteeing every single word is factual and accurate


falls into the hands of the communications professional.

• This corporate social responsibility starts from conducting thorough research


all the way to including proper attribution of all references and sources
1. Ensuring Transparency and Honesty

• Being wholly transparent also means establishing truthful


representation.

• Disclose all pertinent details including any caveats or negatives, as


minute as they may seem.

• Despite the fact that many people think public relations is


synonymous with “the spin,” we should never change the narrative
based on what we want our audience to believe.
2. Understanding Your Audience
• American comedian, Fred Allen famously said, “An advertising agency
is 85 percent confusion and 15 percent commission” but that should
never be the case.

• Oftentimes written PR and corporate communications becomes


overcomplicated with jargon and niche industry terminology that
would make absolutely no sense to a layperson.
•
• This is why understanding your audience is so important.
2. Understanding Your Audience

• Before writing, we need to ask ourselves questions like:

o Who is going to read this?


o How much background knowledge do they have?
o Is there a way I can communicate this in a more straightforward
manner?
2. Understanding Your Audience
• Let’s not forget that communication is always a two-way street.
• Community engagement is not just about us getting a message across
• It is also the feedback we receive, which largely depends on how the
message was comprehended.
• This means that we must factor in any language barriers that the
audience may face and push for representation in our choice of
words.
• As communication professionals, this helps us make certain that we
do not present anything that may cause harm or be construed as
demeaning, intolerant or even hateful.
3. Respecting Confidentiality and Privacy

• Privacy is a hot topic, and rightfully so.

• It is so easy to get carried away, especially when there is a potentially


sensational message, but always ensure you are not violating any
individual’s privacy or disclosing confidential information regarding an
organization.
3. Respecting Confidentiality and Privacy

• Honour and safeguard the confidentiality of your customers and


partners that may have disclosed certain details that are meant to
strictly be kept under wraps, even if there is no legally binding
document such as a non-disclosure agreement.

• The same applies to those working in journalism and who may have
tapped on sources that have requested to remain anonymous or
shared private knowledge off the record.
4. Choosing the Right Time and Place

• Following ethical communication practices goes beyond what you are


saying, but also when and where.

• Take for example an advertisement for cigarettes on a children’s


television channel or a feature story on high-technology weapons in
the midst of a conflict.

• While extreme scenarios, these demonstrate the importance of when


and where we decide to communicate.
4. Choosing the Right Time and Place

• Be tactful and mindful in choosing the most appropriate time and


place to communicate.

• Plan and strategize. Research your audience, the various options you
have for mediums or channels, as well as global events that may
affect the way your message is received and perceived
Putting an End to the Ethical Dilemma in Communications

• Ethics should be the cornerstone of every organization’s communication


strategy.

• We know this to be true, but what does it mean to communicate


ethically?

• Because the topic of communication ethics is not typically discussed as


often as it should, this frequently results in uncertainty on the part of
communication professionals.
Putting an End to the Ethical Dilemma in Communications

• Effective ethical communication is foundational to the success of an


organization’s communication strategy.

• While communicating factually accurate messages honestly and


transparently is central to ethical communication, it also extends far
beyond that.
Source:
https://www.teamlewis.com/magazine/4-basic-principles-of-ethical-co
mmunications/#:~:text=Simply%20put%2C%20ethical%20communicati
on%20refers,concise%2C%20truthful%2C%20and%20responsible
.

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