IABC Café

Recently, I heard a report about the opening of the Newseum in Washington D.C. I was particularly interested in the report because it indicated that upon entering the Newseum, guests are asked to participate in a journalism ethics challenge. After completing the challenge, guests can learn why their responses are ethical or unethical, and experience the daily challenges of making the “right” decision when faces with ethical dilemmas.

Seeing the world through the eyes of journalists who serve many interests that and “customers” who often resent conflict – right and wrong – or dilemma – most right of two rights.

The most shocking comment in the report was a statement from an individual – I regret I didn’t catch his name – who expressed something to the effect, the Newseum is a waste of funds that could have been better spent on funding public radio.

Although I am an advocate for public radio, I disagree with this person’s assessment because as we learned from the IABC Research Foundation study, The Business of Truth, most communicators and organizational leaders don’t have a clear understanding of who serves as ethical conscience or how to establish ethical cultures within organizations. The study also recommends that organizations that plan for and participates in ethics training and discussions are more prepared and likely to act appropriately when faced with ethical dilemmas.

So, what perfect timing for Scott McClellan’s book release admitting to unethical practices. Rather than engage in the many “I’m right, you’re wrong” conversations that have popped up since the announcement, I pose a challenge to professional communicators, business leaders, journalists, and anyone else who cares to capitalize on this opportunity.

It’s easy to sit back and point fingers at a profession, an individual, or an organization. And, nothing will change. No one will risk assessing their personal ethics. No organization will recognize that just as it happened within Enron and the Office of the President, it could happen to us. And education and training opportunities such as the Newseum ethics challenge will continue to be viewed as a waste of money. So, the challenge …

Clarifying what is and isn’t ethical within an organization requires a willingness to talk about ethics. If organizations missed the opportunity following Enron, McClellan gives us a new opportunity. Remind employees of your organization’s ethics policies, and then provide them with “hands on” experiences so that they are able to make appropriate decisions and act appropriately when faced with ethical dilemmas.

What would the hands on experience look like? The IABC Code of Ethics provides three concepts that can serve as discussion topics for organizations that are willing to host ethics discussions with their employees:

Professional communicators uphold the credibility and dignity of their profession by practicing honest, candid, and timely communication and fostering the free flow of essential information in accord with the public interest.

How does your organization define “essential information” and “public interest?” How do the people within your organization foster this type of behavior? What processes are defined and what policies are in place to support the ethical decision making of your employees? What mechanisms are in place to help employees feel safe to raise concerns?

Professional communicators disseminate accurate information and promptly correct any erroneous communication for which they may be responsible.

What review processes are in place to ensure accuracy? How does your organization define “prompt?” By what measure of tolerance will your organization correct “erroneous communication?” How has your organization identified and communicated responsibility, and what are the consequences for non-performance?

Professional communicators are honest not only with others but also, and most importantly, with themselves as individuals; for a professional communicator seeks the truth and speaks the truth first to the self.

What definitions and metrics have your employees identified and communicated regarding their personal ethics or commitment to codes such as the IABC Code of Ethics? What are the consequences for failing to live up to personal commitments?

Take this opportunity to make your personal and organizational Code of Ethics more than simply words on a page. If organizations will take the time to make ethics a normal part of our business and discussions, we can learn from the mistakes of others and eliminate the fear and ignorance that prevents us from truly understanding what ethics are.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 at 11:27 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.