I write this at an odd and troubling time. Like everyone else, I am trying to keep up with the news, take care of myself mentally and physically, and shift to teaching and working entirely online. And like everyone else, I’m not sure my house has ever been this clean.
Our first ethical responsibilities are to each other. We need to live and show our shared humanity. Help where and how we can. Check in with neighbors, loved ones and students. Wash your hands.
Below are some resources for those teaching and thinking about communications and ethics. Let me know your resources and I’ll share them on our Twitter feed, @policommethics.
Resources for political communication and ethics
The Media Ethics Institute at UT Austin has short case studies in political communication ethics, journalism ethics, and other fields. Designed for use in college courses, the case studies use real-world examples to raise ethical questions.
The Project on Ethics in Political Communication has hosted online text and video chats, hosted a question series, and written about political communication ethics. The videos and posts can serve as the basis for class discussions.
A recording of the Project’s recent conversation about political speechwriting ethics with the director of speechwriting for the Romney/Ryan campaign Lindsay Hayes, former Clinton White House speechwriter Vinca LaFleur, and professor David Frank of the University of Oregon is on YouTube.
Recent pieces on the ethics of campaigning during COVID-19 include this from NPR, another from Campaigns & Elections, and a piece I wrote for The Hill.
The Communications Network has numerous resources for communications professionals - including a growing focus on communicating in this crisis.
More books, chapters and articles about ethics in political communication are here.
Political Communication Ethics: Theory and Practice is available for pre-order from Rowman & Littlefield. This textbook with chapters from both scholars and practitioners is the first of its kind. It should be available in July.
I have also created an ethics Twitter list you might find useful - let me know who should added.
What other resources should we be sharing? Are there examples of especially good, or bad, political communication that would make good case studies or that should be highlighted? Let me know - ploge@gwu.edu.
Get some rest, take care of yourself, and wash your hands.
- Peter