Insider 1999 Film-Ethics and Responsibilities Essay Sample

Insider 1999 Film-Ethics and Responsibilities
Student's Name
Institution affiliation
Professor
Date
Ethics and Responsibilities
Ethics and responsibilities in mass communication include honesty, integrity, respecting and advocating for free speech, respecting everyone despite their cultural differences, and obeying every law. The primary objective of the code of ethics in mass communication is to enhance interpretation and recognize values in the field. The 1999 insider film takes the audience on essential attributes of honesty and integrity versus self. The film entails the tobacco industry's exposure; the producer Lowell Bergman endures a professional attack when Russel Crowell refuses to talk with him. However, after writing a confidentiality agreement, Russel decides to open up. The film reflects every media personality's ethics and responsibilities before they exorcise essential information in the field.
The film is based on a true story, and it is used to illustrate unethical practices in the tobacco industry. What is the cost of overriding self to save the public? Despite the challenges everyone would face in daily life, they should have a defined code of ethics to help them carry crucial responsibilities.
Wigand's Ethical Dilemma
The ethical dilemma is typically a paradox between two possible options whereby none of them is ethically accepted. Wigand (Russel Crowell) finds himself in a moral dilemma because his testimony in Mississippi violated the law, and that would put him to jail. On the other hand, he faces death threats from the tobacco industry; for example, Wigand finds a bullet in an email pushing him to drop the case. The tobacco industry plays an integral role in an economy, although it affects the health of people. The two options are viable, but they are not ethical (Van, 2003).
Moreover, ethically, everyone is supposed to obey all laws; however, Wigand is willing to override this aspect in Kentucky law courts. Wigand is estranged in two challenges that seek him to be ethically responsible. Furthermore, his testimony puts him in harm's way, which puts his marriage at risk. Despite the dilemma, Wigand chooses to stand with the truth; he records his testimony against the tobacco company. Kentucky's state threatens to imprison him, which puts the Wigand family in jeopardy because he is the family's breadwinner. His thirst for truth is embedded in the future generation; thus, he is not worried about the immediate consequences after the testimony. Wigand's decisions are moral and reflect ethical responsibility. The implications of his testimony towards a tobacco company hit him hard when he goes back to Louisville to find his wife and children gone. Either of the options would bear adverse consequences; for instance, if he did not testify, more money would be wasted on Medicaid to support mental and chronic ailments. In this case, not only the current generation would be affected but also the future generation.
Wigand's Loyalty
Loyalty entails the aspect of giving full allegiance to someone or something. Wigand's loyalty is to people the society as compared to his family. According to the Insider film (1999), Wingard gets all sorts of threats but yet goes ahead and testifies. He puts d...