The one I’d like to discuss briefly today is the so-called “Front Page of the Newspaper” test, or sometimes “The New York Times Rule.” In one of its standard versions, it gets stated this way: “never do anything you wouldn’t want to see reported on the front page of the New York Times.” Some versions have additional qualifiers.
What is the front page test?
The Whys of the Front Page Test The front page test is analytically useful because it encourages a public official to think about how his or her actions might look to the outside world.
Should public officials take the front page test?
If you would be at all uncomfortable, the best course of action is not to do it — end of analysis. The front page test is analytically useful because it encourages a public official to think about how his or her actions might look to the outside world.
Is the front page test a good way to measure character?
However, even if the likelihood of scrutiny is slim or non-existent, the front page test is still a good one to use. As legendary basketball coach John Wooden observed, “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.”
What is the strength of the newspaper test?
The hidden strength of the Newspaper Test lies in the notion of accountability, i.e., of having to give reasons for your actions in order to make them understandable to society at large. Loading... Blog at WordPress.com. WPzone.net.
What is the newspaper test?
The 'newspaper test' If a manager expresses uncertainty, Buffett says he asks them how they “would feel about any given action if they know it was to be written up the next day in their local newspaper.”
Which is an example of the front page test?
The front page test requires asking yourself: How would I feel if the course of action I am considering were reported on the front page of the local newspaper or blog?
How might the front page test help advisers deal with an ethical dilemma?
The front page test is analytically useful because it encourages a public official to think about how his or her actions might look to the outside world. People tend to rationalize their actions, usually by starting their analysis with what they want to do and then reasoning backward to justify that course of action.
What is the Laura Nash model?
Laura Nash Model She has people identify the problem, understand the problem from other people's perspectives, pinpoint how the situation arose, identify who they have loyalty to, clarify their intention, compare the intention to the results and consider who will be hurt by the decision.
What is The New York Times test?
The New York Times Test basically tells managers to ask themselves how they would feel if the actions they are about to take in their organization (decisions, communication, etc.) were described in detail on the front page of the New York Times.
What is the Golden Rule test?
The golden rule is a moral principle which denotes that you should treat others the way you want to be treated yourself. For example, the golden rule means that if you want people to treat you with respect, then you should treat them with respect too.
How do you answer an ethics test question?
How to answer ethical dilemma interview questionsThink of an experience and how you handled it. ... Relate your actions to the company's values or mission. ... Prioritize the company's needs and interests. ... Emphasize acting with integrity. ... Apply the STAR response technique.
What tests are used to make ethical business decisions?
Click on the eight ethics tests below that can help you make tough ethical choices and explain to other stakeholders why you made that decision.Viral News Test. ... Outcomes Test. ... Rights Test. ... Everybody Test. ... Choices Test. ... Justice Test. ... Common Good Test. ... Character/Virtue Test.
How do you test ethical decisions?
Imagine making the decision and then look at yourself in the mirror....Sanctuary Test.clarifying the ethical issue and its root causes.creatively exploring possible alternatives.evaluating the choices with input from trusted advisors and the screen of your personal values and core beliefs.
What are Nash's 12 questions?
12 Questions to ask when making an ethical decision (Laura Nash) Have you defined the problem accurately? How would you define the problem if you stood on the other side of the fence? How did this situation occur in the first place?
What is the Blanchard and Peale method?
Blanchard & Peale suggest an Ethics Check – answering three questions when faced with an ethical problem. If the answer to any of the three questions is NEGATIVE, the decision should be the same.
What are some ethical dilemma you have faced?
Some examples of ethical dilemma include: Taking credit for others' work. Offering a client a worse product for your own profit. Utilizing inside knowledge for your own profit.
What is the front page test?
The front page test entails asking yourself if you – as a reader of a newspaper - would agree with the decision you’re making based on it being printed on the front page of said newspaper. If you are, you are clearly comfortable with your decision.
Who said PR plays a noble role in society?
Dave Senay , the president and CEO of FleishmanHillard, once said, “PR plays a noble role in society.”. A company’s permission to operate, he said, must be protected internally by its authorities and employees with every decision made. Decisions, however, do not always fall into clear-cut “yes” and “no” categories.
Why is the front page test important?
The front page test is analytically useful because it encourages a public official to think about how his or her actions might look to the outside world. People tend to rationalize their actions, usually by starting their analysis with what they want to do and then reasoning backward to justify that course of action. It’s a time-honored temptation. As founding father Benjamin Franklin wryly noted, “So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.” In a similar vein, French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau cautioned that “Nature never deceives us; it is always we who deceive ourselves.”
When it appears that public officials (or their friends) are not subject to the same rules and burdens as everyone else
When it appears that public officials (or their friends) are not subject to the same rules and burdens as everyone else, the public questions the fairness of the situation.
What is the task of a savvy and ethical public official?
The task for the savvy and ethical public official is to make decisions in a way that maximizes the likelihood that the community will conclude the official is trying to do the right thing. That’s what the public expects from its public servants.
