Libel

I don't understand why slander would be a big deal. Whatever happened to free speech?

I guess we have free speech but to an extent. That's what I will assume. You can say something, but if it offends someone then you get in trouble. Whatever happened to opinions? I guess you can't have those anymore because it may be offensive to someone. I feel like the law has taken libel and slander a bit overboard. Instead of being free to say anything you want, the way this country was brought up to believe, you have to walk on egg shells and hope that no one is offended by what you say.

So what happens to those people who say something inappropriate? Their names go on record of saying the phrase that made someone upset and they have to go to court to settle something that may have been just a momentary thought written down on paper or spoken. Because they were able to say what they felt, they are now being slandered their reputation is in jeopardy. They will always be known as an offensive rude person. Is that fair?

Mamet's Assertions About Ethics in Marketing

Within Mamet's Glengarry, Glen Ross assertions about ethics in marketing were made.

Most of us have formed a negative stereotype regarding sales people. We think of them as smooth-talking, blood-suckers who are out to support themselves in any way possible. Mamet plays on this stereotypical outlook and portrays his characters dealing with ethical situations.

The salespeople in Gelngarry, Glen Ross sell property. The property they sell does not exist. In the process of selling the fictitious land the men never take into play the situations of their customers, they simply are out for money and recognition as the top seller.

The unethical practices that the sales people within the play are known for are:

- Promising clients more than they can deliver, and lying to get the sale.
- Knowingly recommending products to the customer that they know is not in their best interest.
- Steering customers toward a higher-priced solution when a more reasonable option exists.

The unethical decisions that the characters within Mamet's play make are common ethical dilemmas which salespeople still deal with today. Although the ethical landscape is changing within corporate sales departments, these ethical problems still exist within the people employed. Greed and the fight to make commission get in the way of making the ethical decision within those employed, therefore further tarnishing the way sales careers are viewed.
Continually pushing company ethics and ridding sales departments of commission pay will help to deter people from making unethical decisions and encourage them to hold to company wide ethical standards.

Southwest Airlines Apology

Southwest Airlines recently faced two clothing situations, where two of their customers were refused service because of their attire. This is very unsouthwest behavior.

In order to kill the press on the first incident, Southwest decided to make light of the situation in both a press release as well as TV commercials.

From a business standpoint I believe that Southwest was right in handling the situation the way that they did. By making fun of themselves they were able to get the press off of their backs and still save the face of the company.

From an ethical standpoint this may not have been the best thing to do because by making fun of these situations they were also making fun of their employees own set of ethics. Making their ethics seem inferior to the company's image.

In order to turn this whole situation around, I think that it would be wise for Southwest to either come up with a dress code, or stand behind their employees. As of now not everyone within that company is on the same page, and they very well should be before this clothing situation gets anymore out of hand.

PRSA Code of Ethics

The PRSA Code of Ethics discusses what ethical obligations public relations practitioners should uphold during the course of their career and membership with the organization.

As far as the principles of freedom, stewardship, justice, humaneness and truth, I believe that the majority of the codes reflect the communitarian mode. This mode states that the communities well-being is as important as the organizations. The majority of the codes fall under the principles of humaneness and truth. By focusing on these two principles and referring to the people (the companies and general public we are serving as practitioners) the code of ethics takes on a communitarian mode. PRSA is concerned with the well being of the community and the people living within it.

Although the codes reflect a little of both utilitarian and communitarian viewpoints, I believe that the communitarian viewpoint comes out on top. Sure organizations would like to provide the greatest good to the greatest number of people, but in these kind of situations not everyone will be happy with the chances PR practitioners take to ethically represent their companies therefore the communitarian viewpoint comes into play as the mode that most represents the code.