Many of you have already begun to deal with professional ethics through courses in your major, and most professional societies today include a Code of Ethics articulating your responsibilities and defining your conduct as a member of that profession. For example:

Association of Consulting Foresters
National Association of Social Workers
Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers
American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Association of Computing Manufacturers
Society for Technical Communication

Regardless of your profession, your ethical responsibilities extend to your workplace communications - both what you write and what you say.

At the very least, you should be familiar with the Code of Ethics for your own profession.

Exercise1: Use the web or other resources to locate the Code of Ethics for your profession. Does it address communication, either directly or indirectly? What kinds of responsibilities or principles does it outline for that area?

The Society for Technical Communication's Guidelines -->