Ethics in Communication

As I was reading the final section of our textbook about ethics, I was reminded of the field that I aspire to pursue my career in when I graduate. Advertising has been looked upon negatively for as long as I can remember. The talks always start with how advertisers use persuasion (and base rhetoric) to sell products to consumers that do not need them. In our world of excess consumption, are we really at the mercy of advertisers? Have they, through the use of unethical practices, turned us into the wasteful society that we have become?

While I maintain that not all advertising is noble, good rhetoric, I do think that some of the responsibility lies in the consumer. Are we not able to think for ourselves? I think that it is unfair to blame others for something we we are partially to blame. That being said, some advertisers do use unethical practices. I just hope that one day I am not put on the account for a cigarette company. I am confident that there is no way to ethically advertise a product that kills people.

I think the clear problem in the industry is outlined very well in the quotes on page 369. Communication becomes unethical when they are unclear in what exactly they are trying to communicate for a reason, and that reason being that they want to be unclear. That allows people to be mislead more easily.

I believe this stigma associated with advertising will be hard to shake. It will take many years of the industry practicing noble rhetoric before people will begin to trust advertising once again.