The Ethical Optimist

Me, I like a more refined cup ‘o Joe. (I’m already on the record for my Starbuck’s addiction.)

While I think the whole Web 2.0, social media, transparency thing is a boon to ethics…it’s also a major roadblock to ethics.

Why? Well, because the average Joe who’s out there commenting on his blog, adding to a Wikki or self-publishing on any old topic may not have the same ethical code as my friends at the Wall Street Journal or New York Times. Hence, there is both danger and opportunity in the rise of the “citizen journalist.”

While the news media has been known to make the occasional mistake (dare I snicker?)…it is still imbued with a code of ethics, fact checking and mission for social justice and muckraking.

The current information free for all, while wonderful in many ways, means there are no formal filters on the information people have access to on the Web.

Moreover, as the use and existence of traditional media declines, organizations will become their own news channel.

More consumers will bypass the media and go directly to a company’s news channel. Who will provide content and filter this information? More than likely, it will be a public relations professional.

This means those in the public relations profession must take ethics more seriously…and our industry organizations, such as PRSA, IABC and the like must put more influence behind their ethical enforcement practices.

It’s time to take the gloves off, people!