The ethical choices you make as a writer are, ultimately, up to you and depend on your value system. But to help define the ethical concerns in any document you write or talk you give, you should begin by outlining all the stakeholders - who will be affected by this communication, and how?

For example: Suppose I want to write a public information article on clearcutting (a way to harvest timber that involves cutting down every tree in the harvest area).

The practice receives a lot of criticism because it often looks "ugly" and because it can, if not done properly, seriously degraded the environment. However, it's often the most efficient and cost-effective method, and it can benefit the local environment in many cases.

The stakeholders - those people who might be affected by what I say - could include:

• Loggers - as the people who actually cut the timber, they are the most obvious stakeholders. What I write could affect their jobs and their reputation.

• Sawmill employees - as the people who buy the timber after it's cut, they have an economic stake in the harvest method, as well as in the quality and quantity of trees; in addition, the article could affect their reputation.

• Foresters - as the people who oversee the process, they have economic and professional concerns.

• Area residents - those who live near a clearcut can be affected both by the aesthetics of the practice and by any environmental changes (good or bad).

• Tourists - for areas such as the Blue Ridge Mountains, where "scenic beauty" is a key draw, tourists will be affected by the way the landscape looks.

• Area business owners - in an area that depends on tourism for its economy, anything that affects tourists affects the businesses that cater to them.

• Animals - clearcuts ineviatably affect wildlife, making better habitat for some species and worse habitat for other species.

 

Exercise 3: Who are the stakeholders in your semester project? How might your document affect them?

Conclusion -->