Ethics - Essay Example

Ethics Introduction Advertisement is a powerful way of communication persuasively to a target audience that has been predefined. This is because advertisements aim to persuade the audience to adopt the point of view being promoted by the advertiser (OGuinn, Allen, and Semenik 236). This method is employed by businesses and other entities to communicate to the public. However, there are ethical issues, which should be considered before running an advertisement (Plaisance 173). In the case, of the Miami Hurricane concerning the advertisement promoting the insinuation that the holocaust experienced during the Nazi regime never occurred had ethical consequences. This is because the topic is a sensitive on among certain communities present in the campus the paper is situated. Advertisements are hypothetically expected to have a positive impact on the audience. They are also expected to be sensitive to the issues affecting the community (Sheehan 178). Therefore, it is wrong for the university to run the advertisement on holocaust.
The holocaust was an infamous historical period, which affected the Jewish community in Europe adversely. Therefore, the event is bound to raise strong emotions predominantly from the Jewish community in the campus. Since the period had grave consequences for the community, there should be sensitivity when approaching the issue (Shimp 319). This is because, as a journalist, it is imperative to consider the impact of the communication on the community. Therefore, it is morally incorrect to run this advertisement judging from the reaction that may be experienced from the community. Not running the advertisement will avert eliciting negative reactions from the community (Tyagi and Kumar 328).
Conclusion
Advertisements are powerful tools for persuading the public to adopt certain mindsets. Therefore, it is imperative that journalists appreciate the significance of these communications among the community. If this is the case, moral considerations should be key in advertisements to avoid eliciting negative reactions from the community.
Works Cited
OGuinn, Thomas C, Chris T. Allen, and Richard J. Semenik. Advertising and Integrated Brand Promotion. Mason, Ohio: South-Western/Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.
Plaisance, Patrick L. Media Ethics: Key Principles for Responsible Practice. Los Angeles: SAGE, 2009. Print.
Sheehan, Kim B. Controversies in Contemporary Advertising. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2004. Print.
Shimp, Terence A. Advertising, Promotion, and Other Aspects of Integrated Marketing Communications. Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.
Tyagi, C L, and Arun Kumar. Advertising Management. New Delhi: Atlantic, 2004. Print. Read More