Ethics in PR and life

As we were discussing ethics in class last week, it got me thinking of what exactly I would do when faced with decisions that some/I might consider unethical. This thought process led me to thinking that I don't see myself ever being in that type of situation. As naive as it may sound, I can't picture myself taking a job at a company that would put me in a compromising situation. I have spent a long time trying to figure out what I want to do when I graduate and every time I think about it, I know I do not want to settle. I see too many people taking jobs for money and not really enjoying their lives. They are just getting by. For me, this kind of job would be with a big corporation or someplace that forces me to sit behind a desk or in a cubicle all day. So I am looking for something that I love and can get behind whole-heartedly. OK, yes, this is going to be hard to find, especially out of college. However, if this dream-job that I have not yet discovered does come about, I assume that our ethics will align.

But I know I live in a world where we don't always get what we want and we always have to pay the bills, so I'll discuss what my ethical stances might have to be. I am not the "do-anything-for-money" type so I would not start out taking a job that obviously conflicts with my faith and values. For example, I almost have a hard time promoting the CW shows, 90210 and Melrose Place, because I really do not support the message they are sending out. The shows are filled with sex, drugs and alcohol and 90210's target audience is made up of a lot of teenagers. I just don't think its OK to basically make drinking and sex look normal for a 16 year old. Also, I would not take a position with a tobacco company, because I do not want to be apart of feeding a habit that is life-threatening for the buyer and those around him.

After I have taken a job that appears to be ethically sound, and then find out I will be asked to do something that conflicts with my set of values, that will be the hardest decision. The more involved you get in something, the harder it is to turn away from it. I can only hope that I will be able to stand up for what I know is right, even at the risk of being fired. I don't want to get stepped on and I really think I would have to do what I know is ethically sound. Look out real world, I'm gonna set you straight!