Author Question: Ethical Dilemma in Publishing Laurence heads the advertising department for a chain of local weekly ... (Read 48 times)

pragya sharda · **on:** Jun 23, 2018

Ethical Dilemma in Publishing Laurence heads the advertising department for a chain of local weekly newspapers. His friend, who writes news, shared an upcoming news story to be printed in the next edition. The story discloses that a local quick oil change firm has been cited for illegally dumping used oil and that customers have alleged that they paid for oil changes that were not made. As a major advertising client, the oil change firm is placing a full-page ad that mentions its environmentally safe handling methods and trustworthy service. Answering the six questions in the Pagano Model, help Laurence decide what action, if any, he should take.

Question 2

Bulleted lists are inappropriate in business writing because they are too casual.
Indicate whether the statement is true or false

dajones82 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The Pagano Model includes the following questions for determining legal/ethical response:
1 . Is the proposed action legal? Laurence knows there is a conflict in what the reporter has written and what the client claims. Laurence should encourage his reporter friend to check that sources were reliable and make the publisher aware of the conflict.
2 . What are the benefits and costs to the people involved? The client's reputations would be harmed if the illegal actions are reported. The public deserves to know the truth. The paper would lose the revenue from the client if the ad is not accepted.
3 . Would you want the action to be a universal standard? If other parties accepted gain from enterprises they knew operated unethically, there would be no purpose in behaving ethically. Businesses would be encouraged to do what is wrong.
4 . Does the action pass the light-of-day test? Readers would view the contradiction in reporting and published ads as a mixed message about the importance of ethical behavior.
5 . Does the action pass the Golden Rule test? Most people would not want to be misguided about the social responsibility of an unethical firm.
6 . Does the action pass the ventilation test? A friend would likely say that the desire to earn money from the sale of the ad should not overrule the need to report fairly.

Answer to Question 2

F