Contemporary Consumer & Business Ethics Milan 3 - 6 May, 2010 Dr Neil Connon
Implications and reactions of business to contemporary ethics Session 3&4 Wednesday 11. 00 – 13. 30 & 16. 00 – 19. 00
Outline of the lecture • • What drives business? CRS Boycotts Environmentalism Government Media Conclusions Bibliography
What drives business? Consumer Sovereignty • What is produced? • How is it distributed? Determined by consumer preferences expressed by individual choice in the market place (free market)
What drives business? Adam Smith • producers will find that their self-interest is served by producing what is socially viable • . . individual. . neither intends to promote the public interest, nor knows how much he is promoting it. . he intends only his own gain, and he is in this. . . led by an invisible hand to an end which was no part of his intention. • the interest of the producer ought to be attended to only so far as it may be necessary for promoting that of the consumer
What drives business? Adam Smith • "It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our necessities but of their advantages. "
What drives business? Adam Smith • It is the highest impertinence and presumption, therefore, in kings and ministers, to pretend to watch over the economy of private people, and to restrain their expense. . . They are themselves always, and without any exception, the greatest spendthrifts in the society. Let them look well after their own expense, and they may safely trust private people with theirs. If their own extravagance does not ruin the state, that of their subjects never will. " Smith, A. 1776 The Wealth of Nations
What drives business? • Consumers have a free choice to buy or not to buy • consumers choices determine a business’s success • choices are conditioned by – available information – Promotional activities • individual consumers are in a relatively weak bargaining position
Key features of a corporation • A corporation is essentially defined in terms of legal status and the ownership of assets • Corporations are typically regarded as ‘artificial persons’ in the eyes of the law • Corporations are notionally ‘owned’ by shareholders, but exist independently of them • Managers and directors have a ‘fiduciary’ responsibility to protect the investment of shareholders
Social responsibility • . . . responsibility to society
Towards a framework for business ethics What is a corporation?
Can a corporation have social responsibilities? • Milton Friedman 1970 classic article “The social responsibility of business is to increase its profits” • Vigorously argued against the notion of social responsibilities for corporations based on three main arguments: – Only human beings have a moral responsibility for their actions – It is managers’ responsibility to act solely in the interests of shareholders – Social issues and problems are the proper province of the state rather than corporate managers
Can a corporation be morally responsible for its actions? • Evidence to suggest that legal designation of a corporation makes it unable to be anything but self-interested (Bakan 2004) • Long and complex debate but generally support from literature for some degree of responsibility accredited to corporations • Argument based on: – Every organisation has a corporate internal decision structure which directs corporate decisions in line with predetermined goals (French 1979) – All organisations manifest a set of beliefs and values that lay out what is generally regarded as right or wrong in the corporation – organizational culture (Moore 1999)
Why do corporations have social responsibilities? • Business reasons (‘enlightened self-interest’) – – Extra and/or more satisfied customers Employees may be more attracted/committed Forestall legislation Long-term investment which benefits corporation • Moral reasons: – Corporations cause social problems – Because they are powerful, corporations should use their power and resources responsibly – All corporate activities have social impacts of one sort or another – Corporations rely on the contribution of a wide set of stakeholders in society rather than just shareholders
What is the nature of corporate social responsibilities? Corporate social responsibility encompasses the economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic expectations placed on organizations by society at a given point in time (Carroll & Buchholtz 2000: 35)
Corporate Social Responsibility Desired by society Philanthropic Responsibility Expected by society Ethical Responsibility Required by society Legal Responsibility Required by society Economic Responsibility Carrol 1991
CSR in a European context • CSR particularly strong concept in US and only more recently become so influential in Europe • Difference due to explicit CSR is US and implicit CSR in Europe • Could argue that all levels of CSR play a different role in Europe – Economic responsibility • USA strongly focused on responsibility to shareholders • Europe focused on the economic responsibility to employees and local communities as well – Legal responsibility • State accepted as prominent force in enforcing rules of the game rather than as interfering in it – Ethical responsibility • Europeans tend to exhibit greater mistrust of modern corporations than US – Philanthropic responsibility • In Europe mostly been implemented compulsorily via the legal framework rather than via discretionary acts of successful companies (US)
CSR and strategy: corporate social responsiveness • Corporate social responsiveness refers to the capacity of a corporation to respond to social pressures (Frederick 1994) • 4 ‘philosophies’ or strategies of social responsiveness (Carroll 1979) – Reaction – Defence – Accommodation – Proaction
Outcomes of CSR: corporate social performance • Outcomes delineated in three concrete areas: – Social policies – Social programmes – Social impacts
Stakeholder theory of the firm • Theory developed by Edward Freeman (1984) • A stakeholder in an organization is…any group or individual who can affect, or is affected by, the achievement of the organization’s objectives (Freeman 1984: 46) • More precise definition of ‘affects’ and ‘affected by’ (Evan and Freeman 1993) – Principle of corporate rights - the corporation has the obligation not to violate the rights of others – Principle of corporate effect – companies are responsible for the effects of their actions on others
Traditional Management Model Shareholders Customers Firm Suppliers Employees
Stakeholder Model Government Shareholders Competitors Firm Suppliers Civil Society Customers Employees
Stakeholder theory of the firm: a network model Customer stakeholder 1 Competitors Government Customers Shareholders Customer stakeholder 3 Firm Suppliers Employee stakeholder 1 Civil society Supplier stakeholder 1 Civil society stakeholder 2 Civil society stakeholder 1 Employee stakeholder 2
Why stakeholders matter • Milton Friedman – businesses should only be run in the interests of their owners • Freeman - others have a legitimate claim on the corporation – Legal perspective • ‘Stake’ in corporation already protected legally in some way (e. g. legally binding contracts) – Economic perspective • Externalities – outside contractual relationships • Agency problem – short term interests of ‘owners’ vs. long term interests of managers, employees, customers etc.
A new role for management • According to Freeman, this broader view of responsibility towards multiple stakeholders assigns a new role to management. • Rather than simply being agents of shareholders, management has to take into account the rights and interests of all legitimate stakeholders: – Stakeholder democracy – Corporate governance
Stakeholder thinking in a European context • One could argue that although the terminology of stakeholder theory is relatively new in Europe, the general principles have actually been practised for some time: – German supervisory board – ‘Covenant Approach’ in environmental regulation in the Netherlands
Corporate accountability • Corporate accountability refers to whether a corporation is answerable in some way for the consequences of its actions • Firms have begun to take on the role of ‘political’ actors – taken up many of the functions previously undertaken by government because: – Governmental failure – Increasing power and influence of corporations
The problem of democratic accountability • Who controls corporations? • To whom are corporations accountable? • Key to corporate accountability is transparency • Transparency is the degree to which corporate decisions, policies, activities and impacts are acknowledged and made visible to relevant stakeholders
Defining corporate citizenship: three perspectives • A limited view of CC – this essentially equates CC with corporate philanthropy • An equivalent view of CC – this essentially equates CC with CSR • An extended view of CC – this acknowledges the extended political role of the corporation in society
Commitments to corporate citizenship
Three views of corporate citizenship
See handout 6 – Business and Ethics
Boycotts - history • coined in 1880 by Irish Home Rule leader Charles Stewart Parnell - describes campaign waged against Captain Charles Cunningham Boycott by Irish neighbours • strategy quickly became standard tactic used in struggle against English landlords whose property titles were the result of conquest and sustained by legal privilege • 1879, Parnell and Michael Davitt founded Irish Land League in order to achieve what they called the three "Fs": fair rent, free sale, and fixity of tenure • League evolved into widespread and successful peasant rebellion and the first peaceful mass uprising in Irish history
Boycotts - history • campaign against Boycott was League's most notable early victory • was much-hated overseer for Lord Erne, an absentee landlord in County Mayo • 1880, Boycott refused to lower rents for tenants, an audacious scheme was hatched -servants no longer worked in his house, stores sold him nothing, no mail was delivered, and labourers refused to bring in the harvest • Boycott imported politically friendly (Protestant) labourers from Ulster but the expense proved disastrous • humiliated, he was forced to leave Ireland, the campaign's success galvanised Ireland - landlords who evicted tenants found that no other family would move into the vacated home
Boycotts - history • ahimsa. . . is not merely a negative state of harmlessness but it is a positive state of love even to the evil-doer. But it does not mean helping the evil-doer to continue the wrong or tolerating it by passive acquiescence. On the contrary, love, the active state of ahimsa, requires you to resist the wrong-doer by disassociating yourself from him even though it might offend him or injure him physically. Mahatma K Gandhi
Boycotts NVDA - non-violent direct action • tends to be the last resort for a pressure group • direct action likely to increase as more groups find their demands not being met • more companies will become involved as targets or allies • may be symbolic to gain public attention N Craig Smith 1990 Morality and the Market
Boycotts • specific example of how groups can get their message across • is organised activity in which consumers avoid purchasing products or services from a company whose policies or practices are seen as unfair or unjust • can be directly against a company’s activities rather than a product itself • may involve attempts to openly disseminate information about offensive policies • boycotts have -ve financial ramifications for the companies being targeted
Boycotts • consumers can engage in several forms of consumer resistance • pressure groups are likely to be more influential than individuals • some groups engage in resistance by informing the public about marketing practices regarded as socially inappropriate • groups have at their disposal a variety of different methods to put their message across
Boycotts Wilson’s 6 guidelines for direct action • if possible it should be relevant to the injustice so that a clear message emerges from the action • it should have imagination and humour • it should enlist the sympathy of people, not alienate them • it should be non-violent • it should be seen to be an expression of genuine injustice, and not the first but rather last resort • wherever possible it should be within the spirit of the law Des Wilson 1984 Pressure: the a-z of campaigning in Britain
Boycotts • A model for the process which results in pressure group influenced ethical purchasing behaviour
Boycotts • 1. Firm’s marketing system stable: firm (F 1) is matching its resources with the wants of its customers; promotional pressure group (P) is concerned about issue (X) • 2. Pressure group awareness of firm’s failings: P becomes aware of F 1’s undesirable (as judged by the pressure group) impact on X • 3. Pressure group response: P approaches F 1, other organisations (media, governments etc) and the customer to seek an end to the impact of F 1 on X
Boycotts • 4. Firm’s marketing system becomes unstable: the firm’s customers become aware of the impact of F 1 on X. This threatens the exchange process because X becomes a part of the organisation’s offering to the customer through negative product augmentation • 5. Ethical purchase behaviour: some F 1 customers, spontaneously or in response to a call for a boycott by P, take their custom to another firm (F 2). F 2, without the legitimacy shortcomings of impact on X, better matches its resources with those customers’ wants
Boycotts Gauging the success of a boycott • has the offending policy been changed? • will business be more cautious and responsible in their future activities? • will businesses in similar areas, but that remain untargetted, also change their behaviour?
See handout 7 – Boycotts
Boycotts (Innes, 2006) • Food retailers limited GM content due to fear of boycott by Greenpeace and others (Koenig, 2000) • Animal rights reforms by Mc. Donalds and other food retailers were preceded by short and virulent boycott efforts by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) (Zwerdling, 2002). • Boycotts are a pervasive phenomenon in contemporary society • From 1988 and 1995 over 200 firms and over a thousand products were actually subject to organised boycotts in the US
Boycotts • http: //www. greenpeace. org. uk/ • Greenpeace is an independent, campaigning organisation • it uses non-violent, creative and confrontation action to expose global environmental problems • It aims to force solutions which are essential to a green and peaceful future
Boycotts Greenpeace's goal is to ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity. Therefore Greenpeace seeks to: • protect biodiversity in all its forms • prevent pollution and abuse of the earth's ocean, land, air and fresh water • end all nuclear threats • promote peace, global disarmament and nonviolence
Boycotts The Brent Spar: • “The Brent Spar Sets the Industry Precedent The 20 th of June, 1995 was a great day for Greenpeace and the environment. • . . . this was the day when the occupation by Greenpeace of the disused Brent Spar oil platform, a massive public protest and boycott, forced Royal Dutch Shell to reverse its decision to dump the installation in the north-east Atlantic. • However this was only a provisional victory. The Brent Spar is one of 400 oil and gas installations to be decommissioned from the North Sea. ”
Boycotts
Environmentalism “A belief that moral standing inheres in the non-human world, and, that, . . . the fate of other species is not to be arranged to suit the comfort and convenience of species Homo Sapiens“ P. R. Hay 1998 Ecological Values and Western Political Traditions Politics Vol. 8 No. 2 (1988)
Environmentalism Group activities, individual initiatives or attitudes which embrace a range of diverse causes which share a common concern for protecting the ecosystem from further degradation and safeguarding it for future generations An Inconvenient Truth http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=wnjx 6 KET mi 4
Environmentalism The Green Consumer “. . . behaviour that reflects concern about the effects of manufacturing and consumption on the natural environment Wagner S 1997 Understanding Green Consumer Behaviour
Environmentalism • 1960’s sees the start of the movement in Europe • 1970’s /80’s - Scientific research starts to support concerns • movement gains momentum, especially in Germany (Green Party) • by the mid 1980’s there is growing concern for personal health and safety, and ‘green‘ issues move into mainstream politics in the UK • ‘green consumerism represented a significant shift from the rampant individualism of. . . the Reagan. Thatcher years, assuming the role of primary opposition to the New Right’ Gabriel & Lang (1995) The Unmanageable Consumer
Environmentalism Questions on green consumer behaviour • what drives it • does it carry an ethical or religious dimension • what understanding of environmental issues do GC’s have • do GC’s have a distinctive socio-demographic profile • what influence is exerted by peer groups • is it an expression of a specific lifestyle • what impact does the media and pressure groups have • how much is shaped by the current cultural climate • is this a counter culture appealing to a minority
See handout 8 – Environmentalism
Environmentalism “Take a bite out of a hamburger, we are told, and we take a bite out of the world’s rain forests. Buy the wrong car and we may end up not only with a large fuel bill but also with fewer trees and, quite possibly, less intelligent children. Spray a handful of hair gel or a mist of furniture polish from certain aerosols, and you help destroy the planet’s atmosphere - increasing everybody’s chances of contracting skin cancer“ The Green Consumer Guide: J Elkington
Environmentalism But what does it mean for us the humble (although evidently, rather powerful) shopper? It means that shopping is no longer a simple transaction between desire and bank balance. It’s an exercise in moral point scoring, where your opponent is your own conscience. Jessica Brinton, Sunday Times 26. 2. 06 See also RED
Environmentalism • • • Fo. E Greenpeace The Conservation Society The Green Party books e. g. “The Green Consumer Guide“ general media interest
Environmentalism
See handout 9 – Measuring Environmentalism
Environmentalism and business “Good environmental performance is not an optional extra. It is an essential. . no business has a secure future unless it is environmentally sound “ Bob Reid: Chairman ICI “Avoiding environmental incidents remains the single greatest imperative facing industry today“ Edgar Woolard: CEO Du. Pont “Make environmental considerations and concerns part of any decision you make, right from the beginning. Don’t think of it as something extra you throw in the pot. “ Richard Clarke: CEO Pacific Gas
Environmentalism and business • companies now tend to undertake environmental audits • this can help them gain competitive advantage and fend of any criticism • a whole new category of green businesses has been generated by changes in consumption patterns • products range from cosmetics to electrical goods and cars • environmentalists act as referees of corporate behaviour Gabriel & Lang (1995) The Unmanageable Consumer
Environmentalism and business The environmental audit • The systematic examination of the interaction between any business operation and its surroundings. This includes all emissions to air, land water; legal constraints; the effects on the neighbouring community, landscape and ecology; and the public’s perception of the operating company in the local area…environmental audit does not stop at compliance with legislation. Nor is it a ‘green washing’ public relations exercise…Rather it is a total strategic approach to the organisations activities Watson and Emery 2003 p 668
Business and how they react to problems • Functional – non-functioning • Psychological - perceived disappointment The more effort exerted to attain a goal, the more dissonance is aroused if the goal is less valuable than expected
Business and how they react to problems Volume difficulty to measure intensity Past Research • correlation between rising standards of living and CD (Thorelli 1980) • correlation between consumer education and the expression of CD (Hunt 1977) • higher expectations of standard of living - more frequent the experience of CD • ‘Customer satisfaction is regarded as a primary determining factor of repeat shopping and purchasing behaviour’ (Burns and Neisner, 2006, p. 49)
Business and how they react to problems “. . . throughout the developed economies, a range of economic and competitive pressures has forced companies and service providers to re-evaluate the role of the consumer. The creation of consumer value and customer satisfaction are increasingly seen as key factors in the achievement of competitive advantage and commercial success. “ Bohdanowicz, 1994.
Business and how they react to problems • “To retain customer loyalty, to stay in business, companies can no longer afford to protect themselves from customers who have experienced problems. The history of the corporate world is littered with companies who choose to ignore their customer feedback and relegated the role of customer relations to that of the corporate buffer zone“ John, R. , (1994) The Consumer Revolution
Customer Satisfaction Model 2007 Achieve Customer delight Satisfy unstated customer needs Meet basic customer requirements Build consumer loyalty Develop customer confidence Prevent customer complaints www. omafra. gov. on. ca 2007
Conclusions • Business is driven by self interest • Consumers pay an important role in this process and sometimes there is conflict (boycott) • Environmental concerns are on the increase • Business needs to address the environmental concerns of consumers to continue to appeal to them
Bibliography • • • • Adamson, Colin, 1982 Consumers in Business‘ Bohdanowicz, Robin and Janet, 1994 Marketing, corporate strategy and the consumer. The Consumer Revolution, Ed. Robin John, Hodder & Staughton Burns, David, J. , Neisner, Lewis, 2006 Customer satisfaction in a retail setting: The contribution of emotion International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management Volume: 34 Issue: 1 Page: 49 – 66 Emerald Group Publishing Limited Crane & Matten, 2007, Elkington, J. 1988 The Green Consumer Guide Fornell, Ryan & Westbrook, 1990 The Key to Customer Retention Gabriel, Y. & Lang, T. 1995 The Unmanageable Consumer Hay, P. R. 1998 Ecological Values and Western Political Traditions Politics Vol. 8 No. 2 Hunt, H. Keith, 1977 Consumer Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction: Overview & Research Directions, Conceptualization and Measurement of Consumer Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction, ed. H. Hunt, Cambridge, MA: Marketing Science Institute. Innes, R. , 2006. A Theory of Consumer Boycotts under Symmetric Information and Imperfect Competition The Economic Journal, 116 (April), pp. 355– 381. Blackwell Publishing Shankara, V. , Smith, A. K. and Rangaswamy, A. , 2003. Customer satisfaction and loyalty in online and offline environments. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 20 (2), pp. 153 -175 Sparks, P. and Shepherd, R. , 1992, Self-Identity and the Theory of Planned Behavior: Assesing the Role of Identification with "Green Consumerism, “ Social Psychology Quarterly, 55, (4), pp. 388 -399 Thorelli, H. B. and Engledow, J. L. , 1980 Informationseekers and information systems: a policy perspective, Journal of Marketing 44(Spring): 9 -27. Wagner, S. 1997 Understanding Green Consumer Behaviour Watson, Michael, Emery, R. T. Anthony, 2003 The emerging UK law on the environment and the environmental auditing response Managerial Auditing Journal 18/8 666 -672
Government Ethics Why intervene? • Governmental activity in consumer markets is an unexpected interference in the pursuit of profit Underpinning Rationale • while a properly functioning market place is desirable in principle, in practise it has failed to emerge for some reason • for some types of goods and services a conventional market cannot, or should not, exist
Government Ethics The political spectrum left right wing intervention no intervention
Government Ethics • reluctance to get involved in domestic markets • desire to be in harmony with feelings/cultural awareness of the people • desire to be seen to be assisting poorer countries • …but need to balance with domestic needs • aim to assist in the development of these countries to make them trading partners • by creating trading partners, theoretically increasing the wealth of the domestic and weaker economies through trade
Government Ethics DFID (Department for International Development) Aims: • commitment to an internationally agreed target to halve the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015. • ensuring basic health care provision by 2015 • ensuring universal access to primary education by 2015 • work in partnership with other governments committed to these targets, and with business and the private sector, civil society and the research community, • works with multilateral institutions, including the World Bank, UN agencies and the European Commission.
Government Ethics • mutual benefits of trade • concerns over ‘marginalised’ countries • more caring attitude • globalisation - global village
Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) Ethical Trade Initiative • an alliance of organisations working together to promote good practice in the codes of labour practice • supported by the DFID and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
See handout 10 – Government & Ethics
Government Ethics EU 2005 • Population: 459. 5 • 2. 2% euro-zone growth • 5. 2% transition economies growth • Referendums in several countries in the EUs new constitution
Government Ethics Advantages of the EU Single Market • wider choice of goods and services • economic growth • reduced border formalities • freer movement of people • reduced production costs • increased competition • wider educational opportunities • freer movement of capital
Government Ethics Possible disadvantages of the Single Market • fewer safeguards • movement of dangerous goods • quality standards lower • higher taxes • mergers • protectionism • concentration of economic activity • social disruption
Government Ethics Conference on Trade and Development • Development strategies can only succeed in context of globalisation when implemented in a stable political environment by governments determined to make sustainable development a priority. Commission working document: 10 th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Bangkok, from 12 to 19 February 2000.
Government Ethics Conference on Trade and Development Sustainable development also requires • • • higher savings and investment rates better education free trade environmental protection social policies. . . and fair and competitive markets.
Government Ethics • Developing and industrialised countries need a multilateral harmonisation of sustainable development rules and principles in the social, environmental and financial sectors. • This includes the: – promotion of prudential norms and their effective supervision – promotion of transparency in capital flows so as to consolidate the domestic financial sectors in developing countries and prevent systemic global crises.
See handout 11 – Government & Ethics 2
Pressure Groups • The chief social values cherished by individuals in modern society are realised through groups. . . the individual has meaning only in relations with others Earl Latham 1952 The Group Basis of Politics • There is more to democracy than the occasional vote, and there is more to democracy than political parties. Pressure groups, offering an alternative form of expression, are a healthy component of genuine democracy
Pressure Groups What are they? • promote interests of particular group of people or to gain acceptance for a particular point of view • e. g. National Council for Civil Liberties - aims to defend and extend civil liberties within the UK • e. g. British Goat Society: aims to circulate knowledge and general information about goats • there is great diversity in terms of subjects • and in the way they exhibit that concern
Pressure Groups Sectional and promotional PG’s: • membership based on performance of specific economic role, e. g. miners or CEO’s • sectional groups protect interests of members • promotional groups are held together by a shared attitude e. g. Shelter, The Child Poverty Action group
Pressure Groups Promotional Pressure Groups • provide scope for political participation 3 types • single issue pg’s: e. g. CLEAR - sole aim to reduce and eliminate lead pollution • issues-in-context pg’s: e. g. Fo. E - number of agendas within overall context • practice-based pg’s: e. g. Shelter is a charity-cumpressure group provides assistance/support homeless - campaigning on their behalf
Pressure Groups Other issues • avenues of pressure: – insider/outsider status (extent of access to decision makers) – corporations as an avenue of pressure • resources: – commitment, cohesion, strategic location (ability to influence executive) – sectional and promotional groups compared (more influential? ) – public opinion • adopted strategies:
Fo. E is: Pressure Groups • worlds largest international network of environmental groups • one of the leading environmental pressure groups in UK • largely funded by supporters Fo. E • • commissions research provides extensive information and educational materials
Pressure Groups FOE • have won many battles with government and industry - achieving bans on – ozone-destroying CFCs – reduced trade in rainforest timber – increased support for cleaner energy technologies, and much, much more www. foe. co. uk
Pressure Groups Coffee • Black gold http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=B 7 o 1 KK g. Le 9 M
• Cafédirect is the UK's leading Fairtrade company. It works in partnership with small scale and marginalised coffee, and now also tea, producers to help them strengthen their market presence, add security and increase their income. • Launched in 1991, the company - and its brands cafédirect and teadirect - has gone from strength to strength, leading Fairtrade into mainstream markets and raising consumer awareness of ethical issues in global trade. http: //www. cafedirect. co. uk/index 2. html
Pressure Groups • Oxford university Biochemical research centre • controversial new department undertaking animal experiments • groups (e. g. ALF animal liberation front) threaten people/businesses that have dealings with it • has been a backlash from ‘silent majority’ • . . . a crowd mobilised on the streets of Oxford to protest against the violent anti animal rights lobby The Sunday Times 26. 2. 06
See handout 12 – Pressure groups
Media • plural of the word medium • ‘. . . newspapers and broadcasting, by which information is conveyed to the general public’ Types of media: • Newspapers • Television • Radio • Magazines • Internet Rupert Murdoch
Media • most media are profit orientated • therefore need to reflect the concerns of consumers and issues that concern them • as consumer issues move more into the public domain it becomes more important to reflect them in the media • investigative journalism is always looking for a new and more interesting angle • people like news that they can relate to and is relevant to them Thread - http: //www. bbc. co. uk/thread/video/
Media • the aim of most media is to appeal to as wide an audience as possible • some will aim to appeal to certain sections of society • some will aim to appeal to certain political standpoints • some will be used as a mouth piece for their owners e. g. Murdoch • there will also be local, national and international perspectives, which may differ
Media • investigative journalism has brought to the attention of the public a variety of issues • due to the increasingly widespread nature of the media more information is available and more issues raised • the effect of this is to concentrate thoughts of the general public and get them to act often via pressure group involvement e. g. Fo. E, hunt saboteurs, animal rights • this can lead to government deciding to change laws - see notes on PG’s
Media 4. 3. 98 (www. mirror. co. uk) • ‘Bernie Takes Back His £ 1 M’ • ‘Ministers rule out mass vaccination for smallpox Situations where government has responded to pressure: • animal testing • beef (. . also Mc. Donalds) • internet regulation • Lord Chancellors (Irvine) wall paper
Conclusions • The position of governments in relation to ethics changes overtime due to differing political ideology and external events • Pressure groups come and go and will reflect the changing times, events and culture • Media aims to make a profit and to do so needs to understand reflect the feelings of the time
. . . any questions?
Скачать презентацию Contemporary Consumer Business Ethics Milan 3 —
501f5fae4dde562eed6891e1f53a8544.ppt