Communication Ethics
• It takes place when behavior or a person or group is subjected by
their morals thereby affecting interpersonal, mass mediated, and
digital communication.
• There should be a balance in speaking and listening, validity of
emotional appeal, the level between praise and criticism.
• The imbalance of communication results in unfavorable
circumstances between two parties and so honesty on both groups
must be maintained.
Ten (10) Basics of Ethical
Communication (Lewis, 2015)
1. Seek to “elicit the best” in communications and interactions with other
group members.
2. Listen when others speak.
3. Speak non-judgmentally.
4. Speak from your own experience and perspective.
5. Seek to understand others.
6. Avoid speaking for others.
7. Manage your own personal boundaries.
8. Respect the personal boundaries of others.
9. Avoid interrupting and side conversations.
10. Make sure that everyone has time to speak.
Ethical considerations
in Communication (Wakat,
et.al., 2018)
Four(4) Key Principles of • Respect audience.
Ethical Communication
(Button, 2017) • Consider the result of
communication.
1. Honesty
• Value truth.
2. Openness to other views
• Use information correctly.
3. Commitment
• Do not falsify information.
4. Consensus building
Ethical Principles (Sygaco, 2018)
• The Golden Mean
• The Categorical Imperative
• Utilitarianism
• Justice and the Veil of Ignorance
• Lying and Interpretation
• Secrets, Disclosures, & Privacy
• Whistleblowing
• Leaks
• Today’s realities require a consistent mindfulness for the ethical use
of language when preparing for such a deliberate form of
communication like a speech or a journalistic piece.
• Practicing ethics in communication is anticipating and weighing the
effects of one’s message on an audience.
• It is also using information that come from credible, verifiable and
relevant sources.
• It is communicating with no intent to harm another; it is being
careful, attentive, and inclusive through word choice and tone.
• It is looking at differences as a way to understand each other and
what matters to us.
• It never silences, and it welcomes disagreements as opportunities for
knowing others in a more respectful and thoughtful manner.
• Aside from considering your purpose, audience, and context,
identifying the different language registers for spoken and written
English is also essential in effective communication.
• Register refers to the style and degrees of formality that we use
depending on our communication contexts.
• Formal register is more appropriate for professional writing and
letters to a boss or a stranger.
• Informal register (also called casual or intimate) is conversational and
appropriate when writing to friends and people you know very well.
• The neutral register is non-emotional and sticks to facts. It is most
appropriate for technical writing (http://www.really-learn-
English.com)
Credo for Ethical
Communication (NCA, 1999)
• “Ethical communication is fundamental to responsible thinking,
decision-making, and the development of relationships and
communities within and across contexts, cultures, channels, and
media. Moreover, ethical communication enhances human worth and
dignity by fostering truthfulness, fairness, responsibility, personal
integrity, and respect for self and others. We believe that unethical
communication threatens the quality of all communication and
consequently the well-being of individuals and the society in which
we live.”
4 ethical principles of
communication (NCA, 1999)
• Advocate truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason as essential to
the integrity of communication
• Freedom of expression, diversity of perspective, and tolerance of
dissent to achieve the informed and responsible decision-making
fundamental to a civil society
• Condemn communication that degrades individuals and humanity
through distortion, intimidation, coercion, and violence, and through
the expression of intolerance and hatred
• Accept responsibility for the short-and long-term consequences of
our own communication and expect the same of others
• Every time we communicate, we should consider the consequences of
our actions. If people were more responsible in their use of
communication, there would be less conflict in this world. Even
though the four principles above are short and concise, they are
important, because they help us discern the difference between
ethical and unethical communicators (Uychoco&Santos, 2018).
