Workshop poses challenges for communicators
“Making ethics part of our everyday thinking” was just one of the challenges posed to communicators at IABC Wellington’s workshop on 23 July with three speakers tackling topical issues resulting in some robust discussion. A summary of the workshop’s three presentations and related useful links follows.
Check out the IABC Code of Ethics
IABC Wellington President, Simon Pleasants, set the scene and spoke briefly about the IABC Code of Ethics.
- IABC Code of Ethics - Word document
- Ethics quiz - Word document
- IABC Code of Ethics for Professional Communicators - link to IABC website
The Ethics challenge for communicators
Ethics is a central issue for those of us interested in maintaining a good reputation, for ourselves, for the organisations we work for, and for our profession … and for those of us interested in being able to sleep soundly at night. We are outraged if anyone suggests that communications (or “spin doctoring” or PR) is unethical (see some of the debate going on in US here http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/02/sunday/main4146383.shtml and hear the IABC’s views on the IABC’s Cafe2go podcast http://blogs.iabc.com/cafe2go/ )
But how often do we plan for or report on ethics?
At the IABC Wellington workshop, Dr Elspeth Tilley challenged us to make ethics part of our everyday thinking and conversation. And she gave us some ideas and tools to help us do that. Elspeth’s a Lecturer in Communication at Massey University and the designer of the “ethics pyramid”, a communication ethics prototype that is now used and cited by communication educators around the world.
View Elspeth’s PowerPoint Presentation: Planning for Ethics
To find out more, visit http://praxis.massey.ac.nz/ethics.html
Keeping the media honest
What obligations do the media owe the people they’re covering? Wellington barrister Steven Price gave a useful presentation at the IABC Wellington workshop on 23 July on media law and the standards applied by the Broadcasting Standards Authority and the Press Council. He talked about how communicators can use their knowledge of media law and standards to remind the media of their obligations to act fairly and accurately – and how to hold them accountable when they don’t.
If you’re interested in getting a copy of Steven’s presentation to the IABC workshop, email: janice@rodenburg.co.nz
Steven’s book Media Minefield is a useful guide to media regulation in New Zealand, which will be available from the IABC Wellington library, or can be purchased online.
Steven’s blog, www.medialawjournal.co.nz is also well worth checking out, if you’re interested in both fairness and free speech.
The Electoral Finance Act
What communicators can and can’t do in election year, and what the law requires, were the topic of an interesting and useful presention at the IABC Wellington workshop by Peter Northcote, Communications Manager for the Electoral Commission.
Check out the Electoral Commission website: www.elections.org.nz
And, if you’re working in the public sector, don’t forget the State Services Commission also has useful general information available at: http://www.ssc.govt.nz/display/document.asp?NavID=114&DocID=6486