CHAPTER 2 Ethics and Public Speaking

Apuntes

CHAPTER 2 Ethics and Public Speaking The Importance of Ethics Guidelines for Ethical Speaking Plagiarism Guidelines for Ethical Listening When the rumors started, Brian Pertzborn, chief financial officer for a prominent charity in the southwest United States, called a press conference. Dozens of reporters showed up. Brian looked directly into the cameras and said, “I assure you that no one at this charity has taken money away from the children and families we work so hard to serve. Embezzlement is illegal and a serious breach of trust. I would never let either happen.” Brian’s presentation was highly convincing, and for a time it quieted the rumors. Unfortunately, his statements were false. Two months later, he was indicted by the federal government for stealing more than $2.5 million from the charity. At the trial, it became clear that Brian was guilty as charged. It also came out that on the very day of his press conference, he had tried to cover his tracks by transferring some of the embezzled money to an overseas bank account. When the judge sentenced Brian to a stiff prison sentence, she made it clear that she was influenced partly by Brian’s lies at the press conference....