Ethics within the work place...

After reflecting upon what I consider as my ethics, I started to look over previous contracts to see what I had agreed to follow under their employment. I felt that this was a good place to start as you often establish your own views as a performer through what is required of you 'on the job'. This was a really interesting task, as I found the 'code of practice' within each document to represent more legalities to sign for upon acceptance of the job. This made me question are these ethical values? Or is it just merely a way of the production covering 'its back' in a legally binding document? To research this further I spoke to a friend of mine who is currently touring with the 'Lion King', to gain an alternative perspective and to see how different contracts compare.
We both agreed that legalities stated are a form of 'ethics'. Without having a legal document in the form of a contract stating your work period, and guidelines throughout your employment, there would be no structure. It ensures your loyalty and reliability during your agreed work dates, as well as the level you are required to work at. If this is not met then there will be consequences, which could come at detriment to your career in the foreseeable future.
To establish where my more personal ethics have derived from we continued to talk about the 'professional etiquette' we learnt at college. We both trained at the same establishment and found that the values we carried with us were extremely similar. Before commencing our training we were encouraged to sign a student/teacher code of conduct, which was then built upon as we graduated each year. I took the time to analyse how each side can be interpreted, as I feel understanding each point of view is very valuable:

'Student/Teacher agreement:

• Contribute confidently - engage effectively with the development of ideas.
• Prepare thoroughly - preparation is key, look the part, feel the part, perform the part.
• Respect your training - attention and attendance is to be maintained at the highest level.'

The conduct is the same for both parties indicating a certain extent of equality whilst training. Respect is expected at each end to attain the most out of what is on offer, reaching a desirable achievement. This is definitely a value or ethic I hold in high esteem.

In addition to this, I began looking into the ethics within media. Though this is not my current professional place of work, this is the direction I wish to head in. I found this document on the site Wikipedia, which detailed media ethics at its entirety, however I really wanted to highlight the following section as I felt it shared more relevance to television specifically:

'Ethics of entertainment media
Issues in the ethics of entertainment media include:

• The depiction of violence and sex, and the presence of strong language. Ethical guidelines and legislation in this area are common and many media (e.g. film, computer games) are subject to ratings systems and supervision by agencies. An extensive guide to international systems of enforcement can be found under motion picture rating system.
• Product placement. An increasingly common marketing tactic is the placement of products in entertainment media. The producers of such media may be paid high sums to display branded products. The practice is controversial and largely unregulated. Detailed article: product placement.
• Stereotypes. Both advertising and entertainment media make heavy use of stereotypes. Stereotypes may negatively affect people's perceptions of themselves or promote socially undesirable behaviour. The stereotypical portrayals of men, affluence and ethnic groups are examples of major areas of debate.
• Taste and taboos. Entertainment media often questions of our values for artistic and entertainment purposes. Normative ethics is often about moral values, and what kinds should be enforced and protected. In media ethics, these two sides come into conflict. In the name of art, media may deliberately attempt to break with existing norms and shock the audience. That poses ethical problems when the norms abandoned are closely associated with certain relevant moral values or obligations. The extent to which this is acceptable is always a hotbed of ethical controversy.'

Having these enforced guidelines ensures the running of television programmes and distribution of multi-media products at an ethical level. Entertainment media is very much at the discretion and opinion of the public, but having these legal restraints and values opposes many views of unethical complaints, as we as the consumer condone them.

One more ethic I feel is extremely important within our industry, and also significant as we pursue our inquires upon this course, is that of confidentiality. It is a term present in every imaginable career, and provides the selected person the right to remain anonymous and/or for their information to be kept unshared and safe. I feel this value I must particularly take into consideration whilst interviewing and questioning others, as well as recording my findings.

It is interesting to see 'cross-overs' already emerging ethically between different fields of work. I think what is once learned, is eternally applicable, yet the learning process itself is endless...