Building a collaborative communication ethics manifesto

Courses: This activity could be used in courses where persuasion, dialogue, and communication ethics are primary. Thus, a communication ethics course, or course units where students discuss ethics, would be appropriate. For instance, even a human communication course could use this activity to describe ethical treatment of “the other” or a mass communication class can use this activity to discuss ethical power (i.e. the power of technology or news media). This activity could also be modified for use in a public speaking, rhetoric, organizational, or small group communication.

Objective: This activity should be used in tandem with the National Communication Association (NCA) ethical credos on communication. In 2014, to mark the 100th anniversary of the NCA, NCA reaffirmed three ethical credos: The Credo for Free and Responsible Communication in a Democratic Society (National Communication Association, 2013); The Credo for Free and Responsible Use of Electronic Communication Network (National Communication Association, 1963); and the Credo for Ethical Communication (National Communication Association, 1999). When training students to think ethically, it is important to help them develop categories and determine declarative statements. Thus, the NCA documents are effective examples of communication manifestos. Ultimately, through collaboration with partners, small groups of students will develop a communication ethics manifesto in a format similar to the NCA examples. Specifically, they will identify ethical dilemmas, in the activity these are called “Urgent 21st Century Communication Ethics Issues,” and determine declarative statements that provide an ethical framework to address the issue. The “big question”: can student groups create a declarative and collaborative manifesto that addresses urgent 21t century communication ethics issues?