What I will learn:
•Role of Ethics in Communication
•Ethical Principles
Fundamentals of Ethical Communication
• Responsible Thinking
• Decision-making
• Development of relationship
What matters is not what you
say. It’s how you say things.
1.Adhering to the golden rule or
the platinum rule.
The golden rule asserts to always treat
others in the same way you want to be
treated while the platinum rule according
to Bennett (1980) stresses on treating
others the way they wish to be treated.
Ethical communicators address people of
other cultures with the same respect that
they would like to receive themselves
(Jandt, 2013:37).
2. Considering the feelings of
the receiver.
Humans are not only cognitive but
also emotional beings. If we are less
careful with our words, tone, and non-
verbal gestures, people could be
negatively affected. To be ethical in
communicating with others, it will be
best to maintain tact and diplomacy in
our communications.
3. Acknowledging the source of
idea & information.
Sources of ideas and information
should be acknowledged
appropriately at all times. It is
unethical and unlawful for someone
to convey other people’s intellectual
property without recognizing the
author’s names or organizations.
4. Speaking the truth.
This is a universal rule. Unfortunately, there
are also those who (for whatever reason)
seem to enjoy propagating falsehood. Take for
instance the abundance of fake news or what
others call alternative facts on the Internet.
Obviously, this is a violation of
communication ethics and should be stopped
by all means.
Ethical Principles of Communication
Ethical Principles of Communication
1. It advocates truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason as essential
to the integrity of communication (National Communication
Association, 1999).
Ethical Principles of Communication
2. It endorses “freedom of expression, diversity of perspective, and
tolerance of dissent to achieve the informed and responsible decision-
making fundamental to a civil society”.
Ethical Principles of Communication
3. It condemns communication that degrades individuals and humanity
through distortion, intimidation, coercion, and violence, and through
the expression of intolerance and hatred”.
Ethical Principles of Communication
4. It believes that communicators should “accept responsibility for the
short and long term consequences of our own communication and
expect the same of others”.
Forms of Unethical Communication
• Plagiarism
• Selective misquoting
• Omitting essential information
• Misrepresenting numbers
• Distorting visuals
• Failing to respect privacy or information security
Exercise: Define the following and give areal
world example:
• Plagiarism
• Selective misquoting
• Omitting essential information
• Misrepresenting numbers
• Distorting visuals
• Failing to respect privacy or information security
Why is it important to be ethical
when we communicate?
Why is it important to be ethical
when we communicate?
Asian Parliamentary Debate
• Prime Minister (PM): The PM is the first speaker for the Government team. They present the
opening arguments supporting the motion and set the tone for their team's case.
• Deputy Prime Minister (DPM): The DPM is the second speaker for the Government team. They
continue to build on the arguments presented by the PM and may introduce new arguments or
rebuttals.
• Government Whip (GW): The GW is the final speaker for the Government team. They summarize
the Government's case, respond to the Opposition's arguments, and provide a strong conclusion.
• Leader of the Opposition (LO): The LO is the first speaker for the Opposition team. They present
the opening arguments against the motion and lay out their team's case.
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition (DLO): The DLO is the second speaker for the Opposition team.
They continue to develop the Opposition's case and may introduce new arguments or rebuttals.
• Opposition Whip (OW): The OW is the final speaker for the Opposition team. They summarize the
Opposition's case, respond to the Government's arguments, and provide a strong conclusion.
APD Point Distribution
1.Manner (15 points):
1. Respectfulness towards opponents
2. Professionalism in conduct and demeanor
3. Ability to maintain composure under pressure
2.Matter (20 points):
1. Clarity and coherence of arguments
2. Relevance of arguments to the motion
3. Depth of analysis and evidence provided
3.Method (15 points):
1. Adherence to debate rules and format
2. Strategic use of speeches to advance team's position
3. Ability to adapt tactics based on changing dynamics of the debate
Activity: Ethical Communication Dilemma
• A civil engineer is asked to prepare a report on the safety of a bridge.
As per inspection, they found risks on the bridge's structural integrity
but are pressured by their supervisor to downplay the risks. Is it
ethical to downplay the risks in the report despite compromising
structural integrity and risk public safety?
Activity: Ethical Communication Dilemma
• A construction project has experienced a major failure, resulting in
injuries and property damage. The engineering firm is facing public
scrutiny and negative media attention. Instead of communicating with
the public and addressing concerns about safety and accountability,
the construction chose to be silent about the issues. Do you think this
is ethical?
Activity: Ethical Communication Dilemma
• A psychologist is treating a client who confides in them about
experiencing violent thoughts towards others. The client requests
that the information remain confidential, but the psychologist is
concerned about the potential harm to others. Should the
psychologist breach confidentiality to warn potential victims, or
should they maintain confidentiality to preserve the therapeutic
relationship and trust with the client?
Activity: Ethical Communication Dilemma
• A psychologist finds themselves forming a close personal connection
with a client during therapy sessions. While the psychologist believes
this connection may benefit the therapeutic process, they are aware
of the ethical guidelines prohibiting dual relationships. Should the
psychologist maintain the boundaries of a professional relationship,
or is it ethical to allow for a deeper personal connection if it appears
to facilitate the client's progress?
Activity: Ethical Communication Dilemma
• A psychologist is conducting a study on social influence and
conformity. To accurately measure participants' behavior, the
psychologist uses deception by providing false information about the
purpose of the study. Is it ethical to use deception in research, even if
it may lead to temporary discomfort or confusion among
participants? How can researchers balance the need for scientific
rigor with the ethical imperative to respect participants' autonomy
and dignity?
Activity: Ethical Communication Dilemma
Ethical Use of Data Analytics:
• Motion: "This house believes that companies should be required to
obtain explicit consent from users before collecting and utilizing their
personal data for analytics."
• Government stance: Argues that companies have a moral obligation
to respect users' privacy and autonomy by obtaining informed
consent for data collection and analytics.
• Opposition stance: Argues that imposing strict consent requirements
could hinder legitimate data analysis efforts and limit the potential
benefits of data-driven decision-making.
Activity: Ethical Communication Dilemma
Ethical Challenges of Deepfake Technology:
• Motion: "This house calls for stringent regulations on the creation
and dissemination of deepfake content."
• Government stance: Argues that deepfake technology poses
significant ethical risks, including the spread of misinformation,
defamation, and privacy violations, necessitating comprehensive
regulatory measures.
• Opposition stance: Argues that regulating deepfake technology could
infringe on freedom of expression and innovation, and advocates for
a balanced approach that addresses harmful uses while preserving
legitimate applications.
• Linda is a member a secret group chat of circle of friends. One of her
friends in the GC said something offensive about a classmate who
happens to be her close friend. Is it ethical for Linda to tell her friend
about the offensive statement?
• Liza loaned a money to her colleague, Marites. However, Marites
hasn’t paid for over a year already and sees no intention of paying the
debt and has even blocked Liza in facebook. Liza wants to post in FB
about this, as she feels this is her last resort. Do you think Liza’s act is
ethical?
