Essay 2: Adhering To Ethical Communication Standards

Essay 2 Adhering To Ethical Communication Standardspurpose Of Assign

This essay allows you to explain what “communication ethics” means and can involve, as well as how you articulated and adhered to ethical communication standards within a specific assignment for the Communication Studies major.

Paper For Above instruction

Adherence to ethical communication standards is vital within the field of Communication Studies because it underpins the integrity, respect, and responsibility that are essential for effective and principled exchange of information. Understanding what “communication ethics” entails provides students with the tools to navigate diverse contexts of communication responsibly. Communication ethics refers to the moral principles that guide how individuals transmit, interpret, and respond to messages, emphasizing honesty, respect, fairness, and accountability. It involves not only straightforward honesty but also the sensitivity to context, power dynamics, and cultural diversity that influence ethical decision-making in communication.

The National Communication Association’s (NCA) Credo for Ethical Communication offers a comprehensive framework that illustrates the richness and complexity of communication ethics. The Credo emphasizes several core principles, including the necessity for communicators to understand and respect others, to condemn harmful communication, and to accept responsibility for the consequences of their words (NCA, 1999). These principles underscore that ethical communication extends beyond honesty to include respect for others’ dignity and rights, acknowledgment of the power dynamics at play, and the obligation to promote a just exchange of information. The Credo also highlights the importance of pursuing fairness, accuracy, and the avoidance of deception, which collectively create a foundation for responsible communication.

Furthermore, communication ethics are relevant across all contexts—interpersonal, organizational, public, and mass communication—each with its own specific standards but rooted in shared principles. In interpersonal communication, ethics involves honesty, active listening, and respect for privacy. In organizational settings, it encompasses transparency and integrity in reporting and decision-making. Public speaking demands supporting claims with credible evidence while respecting diverse viewpoints. In research, it emphasizes honest data collection and reporting. For example, ethics in research involves avoiding falsification or manipulation of data to ensure validity and trustworthiness. This universality highlights that ethical communication is not confined to formal or academic contexts but is essential in everyday interactions, professional exchanges, and societal discourse. Its consistent application fosters trust, respect, and credibility in all communication exchanges.

Addressing personal experiences, I reflect on a specific assignment completed within my Communication and Aging class to illustrate the articulation and adherence to ethical standards. This assignment involved writing a reflection paper on ageism—discrimination or negative stereotypes based on age—that I observed and enacted in my own communication as a restaurant server. The focus was on examining how implicit ageist attitudes influenced my interactions—such as avoiding engagement with older customers and harboring assumptions about their behavior—and devising a plan to improve my ethical communication practices.

The reflection paper detailed the societal prevalence of ageism and highlighted how unconscious biases manifested in my workplace conversations and actions. I acknowledged that rolling my eyes at older customers and minimizing interactions reflected a breach of respect and fairness—core tenets of ethical communication. My plan included specific strategies: catching myself when making assumptions, consciously providing equally attentive service to all customers regardless of age, and addressing ageist remarks among coworkers to foster a respectful environment. Over the course of a month, I implemented these steps, actively practicing patience, openness, and challenge to ageist comments, thereby aligning my actions with the standards emphasized in the NCA Credo and broader ethical principles.

This process was pivotal in exemplifying ethical communication because it involved self-awareness, responsibility, and action. It demonstrated respect for others by dismantling stereotypes and engaging with clients and coworkers in a nonjudgmental manner. Moreover, I recognized the importance of advocacy—standing against subtle forms of discrimination in everyday workplace interactions—which aligns with the ethical obligation to promote fairness and respect. Through this assignment, I not only adhered to the standards of truthfulness, fairness, and responsibility but also reflected a commitment to fostering inclusive and respectful communication environments. This experience reinforced that ethics in communication is an ongoing practice, requiring continuous reflection and intentionality.

In conclusion, effective communication grounded in ethical standards is fundamental to Building trust, integrity, and respect across diverse contexts. The principles articulated by the NCA Credo serve as a vital guide in understanding the complexity of communication ethics, emphasizing that honesty, respect, responsibility, and fairness are universally applicable. Personal experiences such as my reflection on addressing ageism underscore the importance of intentional ethical practice, illustrating how adherence to standards can transform everyday interactions into opportunities for respect and social responsibility. As future professionals and members of society, understanding and embodying communication ethics is essential for promoting a more equitable and respectful exchange of ideas and information.

References

  • National Communication Association. (1999). Credo for Ethical Communication. Retrieved from https://www.natcom.org/document/credo-ethical-communication
  • Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2013). Principles of Biomedical Ethics (7th ed.). Oxford University Press.
  • Burke, M. A. (2018). Ethics in communication: A philosophical approach. Routledge.
  • Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (2017). Joining together: Group theory and group skills. Pearson.
  • Shaw, R., & Barrett-Clark, P. (2017). Ethical dilemmas in health communication. Sage Publications.
  • O’Neill, O. (2003). Some limits of informed consent. Journal of Medical Ethics, 29(2), 105-111.
  • Trapp, R. (2017). Ethics and discourse: Evaluating communication practices. Wiley-Blackwell.
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  • Herman, J. (2017). Ethical challenges in communication research. Academic Press.
  • West, C., & Noddings, N. (2016). The ethics of communication: An introduction. Routledge.

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